si6 taat1士撻士挞

Jyutpingsi6 taat1

Yalesih tāat

名詞

Definition

Starter; an ignition or startup device for machinery.

colloquialtransporttechnology

How it's used

Derived from the English word starter, this term is specifically used in the context of automotive or mechanical engineering to refer to the ignition or starting motor. It is a classic example of a Hong Kong loanword that has become the standard technical term in local garages and among drivers. While it refers to the component itself, it is frequently used in compound phrases like 士撻掣 to refer to the ignition switch or button.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

gaa3架ce1車go3個si6士taat1撻waai6壞zo2咗，faat3發m4唔dou3到dung6動。

The car's starter is broken, it won't start.

Common phrases

si6士taat1撻zai3掣

ignition switch

wun6換si6士taat1撻

replace the starter

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the English word tart, which is also transliterated as 士撻 in the context of food, such as 蛋撻. Context is essential to distinguish between a mechanical starter and a pastry.