sou3 lou2數佬数佬
Jyutpingsou3 lou2
Yalesou lóu
Definition
A loan shark, or a person responsible for accounting, managing money, or who is good at maths.
- loan shark
- slanga person who does accounting, manages money, or is good at maths
colloquialpeoplemoney
How it's used
The term carries a distinct duality depending on context. When referring to someone in finance or accounting, it can be a neutral or slightly informal way to describe their role, but when referring to loan sharks, it carries a negative, wary connotation. It is rarely used to address someone directly to their face unless you are being intentionally provocative or very familiar.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That loan shark is here to collect debts again.
He is the accountant at the company, his figures are always very clear.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a general term for a mathematician. Using this to describe a university professor or a student who is good at math might sound derogatory or dismissive, as the suffix 佬 often implies a rough or unsophisticated character.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
