soeng5 gaai1上街
Jyutpingsoeng5 gaai1
Yaleséuhng gāai
Definition
To take to the streets to demonstrate or protest.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a strong political connotation in Hong Kong, specifically referring to public protest or civil demonstration. Unlike the Mandarin usage which can simply mean going out to the street for shopping or leisure, this Cantonese usage is almost exclusively reserved for organized social or political action. It is a common way to describe participation in large scale public rallies.
Examples
There is a march tomorrow, will you be taking to the streets?
Many citizens took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction.
Related words
Common phrases
to take to the streets to march
to call for people to take to the streets
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the literal act of going outside or shopping, but in Hong Kong, using this to mean going to the mall or a restaurant will sound confusing or unintentionally political.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
