zau2 baak6 paai4走白牌
Jyutpingzau2 baak6 paai4
Yalejáu baahk pàaih
Definition
To use an unlicensed private car as an illegal or informal taxi for profit.
colloquialtransportother
How it's used
Historically, the term refers to the white license plates used by private vehicles in Hong Kong, which contrast with the red, green, or blue plates used by legal taxis. Operating this way is a serious traffic offence that carries heavy fines and potential imprisonment. The phrase is strictly reserved for illegal commercial transport and should never be used to describe ride-sharing services that are officially licensed.
Examples
He got caught by the police for using his private car as an illegal taxi.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply giving someone a ride, which is just 載人. The term specifically implies a commercial transaction where the driver is profiting from an unlicensed service.
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.
