paa4 sau2掱手
Jyutpingpaa4 sau2
Yalepàh sáu
Definition
Pickpocket; a thief who steals from people's pockets in public places.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Literally composed of three hands, this term vividly describes the act of stealing by hand. It is a specific, somewhat old-fashioned way to refer to a thief who targets pockets or bags in crowded public spaces. While widely understood, many people today simply use the English loanword 扒手 or the more general 賊人 in casual conversation.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Be careful of pickpockets when taking the MTR.
His wallet was stolen by a pickpocket.
Related words
Common phrases
beware of pickpockets
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 扒手, which is the standard word for pickpocket in most Chinese-speaking regions. While 掱手 is understood in Cantonese, 扒手 is far more common in daily speech.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
