si1 piu3撕票
Jyutpingsi1 piu3
Yalesī piu
Definition
To kill a hostage (of kidnappers).
colloquialother
How it's used
Originating from the practice of tearing up the claim ticket for a ransom, this term has evolved into a grim euphemism for murdering a captive. It is strictly reserved for criminal contexts involving kidnapping and extortion. Using it in any other situation would sound bizarre and inappropriately dark.
Examples
nei5 zoi3 bat1 zeon2 cin2 ngo5 zau6 zik1 hak1 si1 piu3
你再唔俾錢，我就即刻撕票。
If you don't pay up now, I'll kill the hostage immediately.
bong2 fei2 zeoi3 hau6 dou1 hai6 si1 zo2 piu3 hou2 caan4 jan2
綁匪最後都係撕咗票，好殘忍。
The kidnappers ended up killing the hostage, it was so cruel.
Related words
Common phrases
wai1 hip3 si1 piu3
威脅撕票
threaten to kill the hostage
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal tearing of paper or tickets, as the metaphorical meaning is now the primary usage in news and crime reports.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
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.
