現金
jin6 gam1
The Cantonese word for "cash" is 現金 (jin6 gam1).
現金 refers to money in the form of notes/bills and coins (noun).
Meaning: money in the form of notes/bills and coins (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 現 (jin6) meaning 'present/current' and 金 (gam1) meaning 'gold/money'.
How do you pronounce it?
jin6 gam1
Did you know?
- If a merchant tells you they 'only take cash', they might use the phrase 只收現金, but in some older traditional contexts, they might say they only accept 真金白銀, which literally means 'real gold and white silver'.
- In some Cantonese-speaking gambling circles, the term 水 (water) is sometimes used as slang to refer to the 'cash flow' or the money currently on the table.
- There is a cultural habit of folding 現金 into specific shapes or envelopes during weddings and Lunar New Year to symbolize luck.
Examples in context
- 送乜鬼嘢現金劵吖，折現好過啦！I don't want a bloody voucher. Just give me cash!This example shows how to express a preference for receiving actual 現金 instead of vouchers.Tatoeba #1111117 by nickyeow, translation #1111118 by nickyeow
- 喺美國土地上有史以來最大嘅搶劫案中，武裝暴徒喺1978年12月11號喺紐約肯尼迪機場嘅漢莎航空保險箱偷走咗500萬美元嘅現金同近100萬美元嘅珠寶。In the biggest heist ever on U.S. soil, armed mobsters stole $5 million in cash and nearly $1 million in jewels from a Lufthansa Airlines vault at New York's John F. Kennedy airport on December 11, 1978.This sentence describes a historical heist involving the theft of both jewels and 現金.Tatoeba #12908359 by Matthewyau1367, translation #12235823 by Cangarejo
- 賭博俱樂部播放咗佢自己嘅旋律遊戲機叮叮聲，當賣家將啲薯片遞畀張檯嘅玩家嗰陣，薯片啲啪啪聲，同埋啲人用渴望成為狂野成功嘅慾望扔現金嘅嘈雜聲。呢個好似一個大人嘅節日噉。喺呢個噉嘅地方，一個人可能會迷路幾耐。The gambling club played its very own melody gaming machines dinging, chips rattling as the seller passed them out to the players at the tables, and the prattle of individuals tossing down cash with the desire for becoming wildly successful. It resembled a festival for grown-ups. An individual could get lost for quite a long time in a spot like this.This sentence describes the noisy atmosphere of a gambling club where people are tossing down 現金.Tatoeba #13493377 by Davidgo5867, translation #10647164 by cheskakim
Example conversation
Two friends are paying for a meal at a small restaurant.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung呢間舖頭只係收現金。ni gaan pou tau zi hai sau jin gwanThis shop only accepts cash.
- 志強 Chi Keung真係呀？但我冇帶現金。zan sai aa? daan ngo mou daai jin gwanReally? But I didn't bring any cash.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung唔緊要，我幫你先畀。m gan yiu, ngo bong nei sin beiIt's okay, I'll pay for you first.
- 志強 Chi Keung唔該晒，遲啲轉帳畀你。m goi saai, ci di zyun zong bei neiThanks a lot, I'll transfer it to you later.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
