ngan4 gai1銀雞银鸡
Jyutpingngan4 gai1
Yalengàhn gāi
Definition
A silver whistle, especially as used by police officers.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This term is a classic example of Hong Kong police slang that has become widely understood by the general public. It specifically refers to the metal whistles traditionally carried by officers on duty. While younger generations might use more modern terms, it remains a recognizable part of local vocabulary.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
The police blew the whistle, and the people immediately dispersed.
Related words
Common phrases
to blow a police whistle
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of a silver chicken, as the term is strictly used for a police whistle. It is also considered slightly dated or old-fashioned in modern professional contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
