zi1 paau3枝炮

Jyutpingzi1 paau3

Yalejī paau

Definition

A gun or firearm.

slangother

How it's used

Using 枝炮 is a very informal way to refer to a firearm, often heard in crime movies or when discussing news reports about illegal weapons. It carries a gritty, streetwise tone that sounds much more vivid than the neutral term 手槍. Because it is slang, avoid using it in formal settings or when talking to police officers.

Measure word

zi1枝jī

Examples

keoi5佢doi6袋jap6入min6面hou2好ci5似sau1收maai4埋zi1枝paau3炮。

It looks like he is hiding a gun in his bag.

nei5你gin3見gwo3過jan4人ling1拎zi1枝paau3炮ceot1出lai4嚟mei6未aa4呀？

Have you ever seen someone pull out a gun?

Common phrases

ling1拎zi1枝paau3炮

to pull out a gun

sau1收maai4埋zi1枝paau3炮

to hide a gun

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of 枝, which is a measure word for long, thin objects. While 枝炮 uses 枝 as a classifier, the whole phrase functions as a noun for the weapon itself, so you would not say 一枝枝炮.