What does "扑街" mean in Cantonese and how to say it in English?
Cantonese is a dialect of Chinese that is widely spoken in Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province. One of the most commonly used colloquial expressions in Cantonese is "扑街" (pū gāai), which literally means "falling on the street". However, its meaning is far from literal and can be quite offensive in certain contexts. In this article, we will explore the meaning of "扑街" in Cantonese and how to say it in English.
The various meanings of "扑街" in Cantonese
"扑街" is a versatile expression that can be used in different ways, depending on the situation and the tone of voice. Here are some of the most common meanings of "扑街" in Cantonese:
- To fail miserably or embarrassingly, as in "我今日考試扑街啦" (ngóh gām yāt háau sī pū gāai lāa) - "I failed the exam miserably today."
- To fall down or stumble, as in "佢行路扑街啦" (keúh hàhng louh pū gāai lāa) - "He fell down while walking."
- To collapse or break down, as in "呢間公司已經扑街啦" (níh gaan gūng sī yíh gāai pū gāai lāa) - "This company has already gone bankrupt."
- To die, as in "佢病咗好耐，終於扑街啦" (keúh beng jó háau noi jūng yū pū gāai lāa) - "He has been sick for a long time, and finally passed away."
- To be beaten up or attacked, as in "佢係街頭扑街啦" (keúh haih gāai tàuh pū gāai lāa) - "He was beaten up on the street."
- To be scolded or criticized harshly, as in "老師好嬲，今日又扑街啦" (lóuh sī hóu náau, gām yāt yauh pū gāai lāa) - "The teacher is very angry and scolded us again today."
How to say "扑街" in English
As mentioned earlier, "扑街" is a colloquial expression that does not have a direct translation in English. However, depending on the context, you can use different English phrases to convey the same meaning. Here are some examples:
- To fail miserably or embarrassingly - "to bomb", "to flunk", "to flop", "to mess up"
- To fall down or stumble - "to trip", "to slip", "to tumble"
- To collapse or break down - "to go bankrupt", "to fold", "to go under"
- To die - "to pass away", "to kick the bucket", "to croak"
- To be beaten up or attacked - "to get beat up", "to get mugged", "to get jumped"
- To be scolded or criticized harshly - "to get chewed out", "to get reprimanded", "to get a dressing down"
Conclusion
"扑街" is a common expression in Cantonese that can be used in various ways to convey different meanings. While it may sound offensive to some, it is a part of the Cantonese language and culture. If you ever hear someone use "扑街" in Cantonese, now you know what it means and how to say it in English.