pak pai

English

Alternative forms

• pak-pai

Etymology

From Cantonese 白牌車／白牌车 (baak⁶ paai^4-2 ce¹), literally ‘white numberplate’.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pakˈpʌɪ/

Noun

pak pai (plural pak pai or pak pais)

1. (now historical) A car used as an illegal taxi in Hong Kong. [from 20th c.]
   • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 471:

     He took pak-pais, knowing they were less under the thumb of the police.

Synonyms

• white card