wai1 jaa1威吔
Jyutpingwai1 jaa1
Yalewāi yā
Definition
Steel wire, especially when used in stunt work or stage rigging.
colloquialworkother
How it's used
Derived directly from the English word wire, this term is almost exclusively used in Hong Kong to refer to metal cables or wires used in construction, rigging, or film stunts. While standard Chinese uses 鋼絲 or 電線 depending on the context, Cantonese speakers prefer this loanword for physical, heavy-duty cables. It is particularly iconic in the context of Hong Kong action cinema, where actors are suspended by cables for gravity-defying fight scenes.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to electrical wiring inside walls or household appliances, as it specifically implies a thick, rope-like metal cable. For electrical cords or wires, use 電線 instead.
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.
