Chinese name Cantonese Yale Romanization Value Meaning 辰砂 sànsā cents Rarely used; lit. cinnabar, ground (therefore small-size) which is used in Chinese medicine 斗零 dáulíng 5¢ coins lit.'’ dram; the weight of the coin, approximately 1.37 g; 5¢ is no longer in circulation 大餅 daaihbéng $1 lit. big cracker; refers to its circular shape 草／兜／條 chóu/dāu/tíu $10 lit. grass/bowl/stripe; slang terms 青蟹 chēngháaih $10 lit. green crab; refers to the colour of the old style banknotes 花蟹／公仔紙 fāháaih / gōngjáijí $10 lit. flowery crab, colourful paper; refers to the colour of the new style banknotes 䊆糈／嚿水 gauhséui $100 lit. a lump of water; “water" stands for money in Cantonese 紅底／紅衫魚 hùngdái / hùngsāamyú $100 lit. red underwear, red snapper; refers to the red colour of the notes 大牛 daaihngàu $500 lit. big bull; refers to a picture of a bull on the note in pre-war 金牛 gāmngàu $1,000 lit. golden bull; refers to the gold colour of the notes 棟 dung $1,000 lit. building; uncommon slang term 皮 pèi $10,000 lit. skin; slang term 雞嘢 gāiyéh $10,000 lit. chicken stuff; uncommon slang term, can also mean $1 餅 béng $10,000 lit. cracker; uncommon slang term 球 kàu $1,000,000 lit. ball; slang term, usually used in buying stocks 碼 máh $1,000,000,000 lit. yard