ngaang6 je5硬嘢

Jyutpingngaang6 je5

Yalengaahng yéh

Definition

Coins; also refers to tough, strong, or difficult things such as hard liquor or hard-to-handle people.

slangcoins (often used in the context of money inside red packets)
slangsomething tough, strong, or difficult to deal with, like high-proof alcohol or a difficult person

colloquialmoneypeople

How it's used

Primarily refers to physical coins, but it carries a secondary, metaphorical meaning for things that are tough or potent. When used for people or situations, it describes someone or something that is formidable, stubborn, or difficult to handle. The term is informal and often used in casual settings to distinguish physical currency from paper notes.

Measure word

deoi1堆dēui

Examples

fung1封lai6利si6是jap6入min6面cyun4全bou6部dou1都hai6係ngaang2硬je5嘢，zan1真hai6係cung5重sau2手aa4呀。

The red packet is full of coins, it is really heavy.

nei5你doi6袋jap6入min6面jau5有mou5冇ngaang2硬je5嘢aa4呀？ngo5我soeng2想wan2搵go3個ngan2銀zai2仔daap3搭ce1車。

Do you have any coins in your pocket? I need one for the bus.

Common phrases

doi6袋ngaang2硬je5嘢

to carry coins

ngaang2硬je5嘢naan4難gaau2搞

a tough person is hard to deal with

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the slang usage of hard drugs, which is sometimes referred to as 硬嘢 in specific criminal or underworld contexts. Always rely on the situational context to determine if the speaker is talking about pocket change or something more serious.