si1 naai1 paai2師奶牌师奶牌
Jyutpingsi1 naai1 paai2
Yalesī nāai páai
Definition
A gambling game, usually mahjong, played with very low stakes.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the low stakes involved in a game rather than the skill level of the players. While it literally translates to housewife style, it is used to dismiss a game as being too small or boring for serious gamblers. It carries a slightly condescending tone implying the game is casual or meant for passing time.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghExamples
They often play for tiny stakes, winning or losing only a few dozen dollars.
Are we playing for higher stakes tonight or just for fun?
Related words
Common phrases
to play for very low stakes
Common mistake
Do not assume this term implies the players are actually housewives. It describes the nature of the betting amount and can be used to describe games played by anyone regardless of gender or occupation.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
