paai3 cau2派籌派筹

Jyutpingpaai3 cau2

Yalepaai cháu

Definition

To hand out queue tickets or waiting numbers; to allocate quotas, especially for school placement.

colloquialschooldaily actions

How it's used

Originally referring to the physical act of distributing numbered slips to manage queues, this term has become synonymous with the competitive process of school admissions in Hong Kong. It carries a sense of urgency and scarcity, as the number of tickets is often limited. You will frequently hear it used in the context of government clinics or popular public services where demand far exceeds supply.

Examples

can2診so2所ziu1朝zou2早gau2九dim2點sin1先hoi1開ci2始paai3派cau2籌。

The clinic only starts handing out queue tickets at nine in the morning.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知bin1邊gaan1間hok6學haau6校zung6仲jau5有paai3派cau2籌aa4呀？

Do you know which school is still handing out quota tickets?

Common phrases

paai3派cau2籌si4時gaan3間

ticket distribution time

paai3派cau2籌on1安paai4排

queue ticket arrangement

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with general queuing. 派籌 specifically refers to the authority or service provider distributing the tickets, not the act of a person waiting in line.