maai6 zyu1 zai2賣豬仔卖猪仔
Definition
To traffick laborers overseas as coolies, or more broadly, to betray someone or sell someone into slavery.
- to traffick laborers overseas to work as coolies; to sell people into slavery
- figurativeto betray someone for personal gain
How it's used
Originally referring to the historical practice of kidnapping or tricking laborers into indentured servitude abroad, the term has evolved into a common metaphor for being deceived or exploited. It is frequently used in office settings when someone is assigned a heavy workload under false pretenses or sent to a project they did not agree to. The phrase carries a strong sense of helplessness and betrayal, implying the person had no real choice in the matter.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple sale or a standard job offer. It specifically implies a situation where the person is being taken advantage of or sent somewhere against their will or under deceptive terms.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
