teoi1 paai4 gau2推牌九
Jyutpingteoi1 paai4 gau2
Yaletēui pàaih gáu
Definition
To play Pai Gow, a Chinese gambling game played with dominoes.
colloquialother
How it's used
Pai Gow is a traditional game involving thirty two dominoes that requires significant skill and strategy, rather than just luck. It is frequently associated with Lunar New Year gatherings where families and friends play for small stakes. The term specifically refers to the act of sliding or pushing the tiles across the table during the game.
Examples
They have been playing Pai Gow all night.
Do you know how to play Pai Gow?
Related words
Common phrases
the rules of Pai Gow
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with mahjong, as the tiles and rules are completely different. Learners often mistake it for a generic term for gambling, but it strictly refers to this specific domino game.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
