siu2 jan4 se4小人蛇
Jyutpingsiu2 jan4 se4
Yalesíu yàhn sèh
Definition
Young or child illegal immigrants
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This term is specific to the historical context of the 1970s and 1980s when many children and teenagers attempted to enter Hong Kong illegally from the mainland. It carries a sense of historical nostalgia or social commentary rather than being a neutral legal term. Using it today might sound dated or insensitive as it reduces individuals to a label associated with a specific era of migration.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
In the past, young illegal immigrants often hid inside container trucks.
Do you know how many young illegal immigrants snuck into Hong Kong back then?
Related words
Common phrases
to catch young illegal immigrants
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of a small snake, as the term is strictly used to refer to people. It is also not a formal legal classification and should be avoided in official or polite conversation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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.
