to4 coeng1陀槍陀枪
Jyutpingto4 coeng1
Yaletòh chēung
Definition
To carry a gun; to be armed with a firearm.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
Originally referring to police officers carrying service weapons, this term is now frequently used in casual conversation to describe anyone carrying a firearm. It carries a specific sense of being on duty or having the authority to bear arms, rather than just possessing a weapon. The term is deeply ingrained in Hong Kong pop culture due to the long-running television series 陀槍師姐.
Examples
After he became a police officer, he was finally able to carry a gun.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone simply holding a gun in their hand, as it implies the act of wearing or carrying a weapon as part of one's equipment or uniform.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
