saam1 zek3 sau2三隻手三只手
Jyutpingsaam1 zek3 sau2
Yalesāam jek sáu
Definition
Thief or pickpocket.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This term is a vivid, slightly old-fashioned slang for a pickpocket. It humorously implies that the thief has an extra hand to sneak into your pockets while you are distracted. While widely understood, it is less common in modern news reports than the more direct 扒手.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Be careful on the MTR, so you don't get robbed by a pickpocket.
Your wallet is in the outer pocket of your backpack, it's very easy for a pickpocket to take it.
Related words
Common phrases
beware of pickpockets
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a thief who breaks into houses or steals large items, as it specifically refers to someone who steals from your person in a crowd.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
