paai3 pin2派片
Jyutpingpaai3 pin2
Yalepaai pín
Definition
To pay protection money, or to distribute name cards.
- slangto pay protection money, including to corrupt police officers
- to hand out one's business cards
slangmoneyslang
How it's used
Originally referring to the act of handing out business cards, this term evolved into slang for paying bribes or protection money. It carries a strong criminal connotation and is often used when discussing illicit activities or corruption. Avoid using it in professional settings, as it implies involvement in shady business dealings.
Examples
I heard that shop has to pay protection money every month.
Do you know why they have to pay protection money to those people?
Common phrases
pay protection money every month
forced to pay protection money
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of handing out business cards, which is more commonly expressed as 派卡片. Using 派片 in a business context will sound like you are accusing someone of bribery.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
