ngoi6 wai4外圍外围
Jyutpingngoi6 wai4
Yalengoih wàih
Definition
Periphery or surrounding areas; also refers to illegal, underground betting.
- periphery; surrounding areas; outside boundaries
- slangillegal bookmaking or betting on sports and horse races
colloquialmoneyplaces
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning of a physical boundary or perimeter, this term is heavily associated with illegal gambling in Hong Kong. When used in the context of sports or horse racing, it refers specifically to unlicensed bookmaking operations that offer odds outside of the official channels provided by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Using this word in a gambling context carries a negative connotation due to the illicit nature of the activity.
Examples
He is looking for an exit around the periphery of the construction site.
I heard he got addicted to illegal betting and lost a lot of money.
Related words
Common phrases
to bet on illegal bookmaking
the perimeter of a construction site
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general terms for surroundings like 周圍, as 外圍 specifically implies an outer edge or an unofficial, often illegal, alternative system.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
