mau1 gaam1踎監踎监
Jyutpingmau1 gaam1
Yalemāu gāam
Definition
To serve a prison sentence; to be jailed.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Derived from the Cantonese verb 踎, which describes the act of squatting on the ground, this term vividly captures the cramped and uncomfortable conditions of prison life. It is strictly colloquial and carries a slightly rough or informal tone, often used in casual conversation to describe someone's criminal history or current incarceration status. It is not appropriate for formal or legal contexts.
Examples
He had to go to jail before because of fighting.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in professional or serious settings, as it sounds dismissive or disrespectful. It is specifically a verb phrase, so it cannot be used as a noun to mean 'a prison'.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
