sai3 kei4細旗细旗
Jyutpingsai3 kei4
Yalesai kèih
Definition
Taxi driver slang for a passenger traveling a short distance who pays a small fare.
colloquialtransportwork
How it's used
Originating from the taxi industry, this term specifically highlights the frustration drivers feel when they spend time waiting in a queue only to receive a low-paying fare. It is strictly professional jargon used among drivers to describe the passenger rather than the distance itself. While it sounds descriptive, it carries a slightly negative connotation of being an undesirable or unprofitable customer.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I queued for an hour, only to end up with a short-distance passenger.
If you take a taxi for such a short distance, the driver will definitely consider you a small-fare passenger.
Related words
Common phrases
to pick up a short-distance passenger
a passenger paying a small fare
Common mistake
Do not use this term in front of the taxi driver, as it is considered rude to label a passenger as such to their face. It is strictly for internal communication between drivers or when discussing work experiences with others.
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.
