的士高
dik1 si6 gou1
The English phrase "corn taxi" is a humorous mnemonic used by English speakers to remember how to say the Cantonese word for disco, 的士高 (dik1 si6 gou1).
In Cantonese, 的士高 is a loanword used to refer to the musical style of disco.
How do you pronounce it?
dik1 si6 gou1
Did you know?
- The phrase 的士高 is a phonetic transcription of the English word 'disco'. The first two characters 的士 are the same ones used in Cantonese to mean 'taxi'.
- The character 高 in 的士高 means 'high' or 'tall'. This creates a funny literal meaning for the phrase that describes a 'high taxi'.
- While 的士高 is a phonetic loanword for 'disco', the word for 'taxi' in Cantonese, 的士, is itself a loanword from the English 'taxicab'.
Examples in context
- 我好鍾意聽的士高音樂。ngo5 hou2 zung1 ji3 teng1 dik1 si6 gou1 jam1 ngok6.I really like listening to disco music.
- 佢哋喺舞池跳的士高。keoi5 dei6 hai2 mou5 ci4 tiu3 dik1 si6 gou1.They are dancing disco in the dance floor.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about old music.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit你覺得呢段音樂係咩風格？nei5 gok3 dak1 ni1 dyun6 jam1 ngok6 hai6 me1 fung1 gaak3?What style of music do you think this is?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我覺得好似的士高咁。ngo5 gok3 dak1 hou2 ci5 dik1 si2 gou1 gam2.I think it sounds like disco.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit係喎，節奏好快。hai6 wo3, zit3 zau3 hou2 faai3.You're right, the beat is very fast.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我想試下跳的士高舞。ngo5 soeng2 si3 haa5 tiu3 dik1 si2 gou1 mou2.I want to try dancing disco.
