nei5 lou5 mei2你鹵味你卤味
Definition
An aggressive, hostile exclamation used to vent frustration, serving as a euphemism for "your mother".
How it's used
Functioning as a minced oath, this expression serves as a socially acceptable substitute for the highly offensive profanity 你老母. By replacing the final syllable with a phonetically similar term referring to preserved meats, speakers can vent intense frustration or anger while maintaining a slightly lower level of vulgarity. It is widely understood as a direct proxy for the original insult, so it still carries significant aggression and should be avoided in professional or formal settings.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not mistake this for a literal comment about food, as it is never used in culinary contexts. Using it in front of strangers or in polite company will be perceived as aggressive and rude, regardless of the attempt to soften the original profanity.
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.
