tau1 dou6 haak3偷渡客
Jyutpingtau1 dou6 haak3
Yaletāu douh haak
Definition
Illegal immigrant; stowaway.
neutralpeopleplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to someone who enters a territory illegally, often by sea or across a border. While the term carries a negative connotation, it is frequently used in news reports and formal discussions regarding border control and immigration policy. It is distinct from general criminals because the focus is strictly on the act of crossing the border without authorization.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That illegal immigrant was caught by the police.
Related words
Common phrases
catch illegal immigrants
wave of illegal immigrants
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a general smuggler of goods, which is usually called 走私客. Using this term for someone smuggling contraband will cause confusion as it specifically implies a person crossing the border illegally.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



