soeng1 gaa1 lou2商家佬
Jyutpingsoeng1 gaa1 lou2
Yalesēung gā lóu
Definition
Merchant, businessman, or shopkeeper.
colloquialpeoplemoney
How it's used
The suffix 佬 adds a strong sense of cynicism or derision to the noun. It implies that the person is greedy, untrustworthy, or purely profit-driven, rather than just a professional business person. Use it only when you want to express a negative opinion about someone's commercial activities.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That merchant is always cheating people out of their money.
Related words
Common phrases
unscrupulous merchant
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in professional or polite settings, as it is derogatory. Use 商人 if you want to refer to a merchant in a neutral or respectful way.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
