ziu1 lam4蕉林
Jyutpingziu1 lam4
Yalejīu làhm
Definition
A banana forest, or taxi driver jargon for a remote area where it is hard to find another passenger.
- a banana forest
- slanga remote location where it is difficult to find a new passenger
colloquialplacestransport
How it's used
Originally referring to the rural areas of Shatin before its massive urban development, this term has evolved into taxi driver jargon for any remote or isolated location. Drivers use it to describe a destination where they are unlikely to find a return passenger, effectively wasting their time and fuel. It carries a sense of frustration or resignation about the lack of business opportunities in such areas.
Examples
Going to the middle of nowhere again, I'm totally out of luck.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this term to describe an actual banana plantation or forest, as native speakers will almost certainly interpret it as the taxi slang for a remote, unprofitable location.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
