waa1 jan4蛙人
Jyutpingwaa1 jan4
Yalewā yàhn
Definition
Frogman or professional diver; also used for Hong Kong emigrants in the 1990s.
- frogman; professionally trained diver
- slangimmigrants from Hong Kong during the 1990s transition period
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
The term carries a double meaning that reflects the social climate of Hong Kong in the 1990s. While it literally refers to a professional diver, it gained a metaphorical sense during the pre-1997 migration wave, describing people who moved abroad to secure a foreign passport before returning to work in Hong Kong. It captures the specific anxiety and strategic planning of that era.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He used to be a navy frogman and is very good at diving.
Many people became 'frogmen' and immigrated abroad in the 1990s.
Related words
Common phrases
to become a frogman or an immigrant
Common mistake
Be aware that the metaphorical meaning is tied to a specific historical period and is less commonly used to describe modern-day expatriates. If you use it today to describe someone living abroad, it may sound dated or confusing to younger listeners.
Grammar color guide
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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.
