zau2 gwai2走鬼
Jyutpingzau2 gwai2
Yalejáu gwái
Definition
To flee from law enforcement, typically referring to unlicensed street hawkers.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Originally referring to illegal street hawkers evading the Hawker Control Team, this term has evolved into a general verb for quickly packing up and leaving to avoid trouble or inspection. It carries a sense of urgency and the precarious nature of operating in the grey market. The term is highly specific to the street culture of Hong Kong and is rarely used in formal or professional contexts.
Examples
The hawker control officers are here, run quickly!
They have to flee from the authorities every day, it is very tough.
Related words
Common phrases
illegal hawker stall
Common mistake
Do not use this term to describe running away from ghosts or supernatural entities, as the literal meaning is misleading. It is strictly used for evading human authorities or inspectors.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
