mau1 gaai1踎街
Jyutpingmau1 gaai1
Yalemāu gāai
Definition
To be homeless; to sleep on the streets.
colloquialpeopleplaces
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of social marginalization and desperation. It is often used as a hyperbolic warning to children or young people about the consequences of failing at school or work. The imagery of squatting on the ground emphasizes the lack of basic shelter and dignity.
Examples
His business failed, and he ended up homeless.
If you don't find a job soon, you'll really end up on the streets.
Related words
Common phrases
to be likely to end up homeless
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply sitting on the ground, which is just 踎. 踎街 specifically implies the state of being homeless and living on the streets, not just the physical act of squatting.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
