What does it mean?

[Datsun]

I was watching an old b/w movie last week. In it, there is a magic hand gong that grants its owner whatever it wishes. After it is struck, the fellow says 'Bo Bui, Bo Bui'. What does that mean, please?

[Helmut]

"Bo" with the -o- pronounced as in English "go" ?

Did not see the movie. Could it be "treasure" ?

[Datsun]

Yes, perhaps it should be 'bou bui, bou bui'.

[Dylan]

In which case, a better translation is "Precious".

Dyl.

[emily]

It could mean treasure, in Cantonese 寶貝

[puiwaihin]

Since "bou bui" can be either an adjective or a noun, I guess it could be either.

[%sig%]

[Datsun]

"Since "bou bui" can be either an adjective or a noun, I guess it could be either."

Well, a couple times, it is used as noun instead of "loh" or gong. But, in the film, it's mostly used as a magic incantation to make the wish come true (like 'abracadabra'). So while either 'precious' or 'treasure' makes some sense, saying 'precious, precious' or 'treasure, treasure' doesn't quite sound right in that context.

[Terence]

baby