to4 dei6 fai3陀地費陀地费
Jyutpingto4 dei6 fai3
Yaletòh deih fai
Definition
Protection money; illegal fees extorted by local gang members or bullies.
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
Originally referring to the local gang members themselves, the term now primarily describes the illegal levy they demand from businesses. It carries a strong connotation of intimidation and criminal activity. While it is widely understood, using it in a casual conversation about legitimate business fees is inappropriate and can sound overly dramatic or accusatory.
Measure word
bat1筆bātExamples
That shop has to pay protection money every month.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with legitimate business expenses or government taxes. It specifically implies an illegal, coercive transaction.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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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).
