My limited experience backs you up – my one Taiwanese friend said “la”, and the guestbook on her webpage was full of “las” from her friends back in Taipei. It did seem to be a general expression of annoyance.
It’s not the same. The “Ahh” sound is a different character, (is it “tooth” plus a mouth?) and actually is also used by some when writing English, usually written as “ar.” I know what you mean; “aaah” seems much more common in Cantonese speech than any “la” I can think of. Actually, I can’t think of when you would say “la,” (maybe it is more of a girly thing) but then my Cantonese is pretty creaky, especially on those troublesome finals. But I maintain that, regardless of whether or not it’s a normal feature of speech in HK, they do seem to use it in writing plenty. You can see examples:
http://www.cinema.com.hk/forum/c_forum_detail.php3?TitleID=7521
I wouldn’t say “PK la” personally, but maybe it’s a girl, isn’t “PK” a girl’s euphemism?
No, PK either stands for “player killer” (on massive multiplayer online RPGs) or a slang term for “woe is me.”
“Woe is me?” That isn’t how I would translate “pok (k)gaai,” which is certainly the meaning in that context. Did you mean something else?
Thanks, xe. I never did find out how the Singapore Chinese felt about that.
How would you translate it?
As silly as I feel arguing about the use of “la”, I feel that I must add something here.
Whilst it does seem that “la” is most often used by Singaporean and Malaysians (especially when idiosyncratically adding it to the end of a statement in English), it is also used as a “modal particle” in Cantonese.
I am sitting here talking to myself, saying various statements in Cantonese and I find that (although this is just my gut feel) “la” is more conclusive than “ah”. It is often used at the end of a statement which requires no explanation or contention. These things are very subtle and subjective though and I don’t feel that there is any way to give a definitive description of the correct usage of these modal particles.
PK is a HK slang abbreviation for a cursing phrase “pook ghy”, which is short for “sei pook ghy”, which literally means “die lying in the street”. It is used as a noun to describe someone. eg. He is a PK.
NB: Only one of my friends uses this abbreviation and he uses it as a polite form of the swear word. Just like “friggin’” or “fricken”. I never use “PK” because if I’m gonna swear, it’s gonna be rude and because it represents no economy over “pook ghy”.
Alright, I really don’t know how to answer this. I was back in Taiwan in June, and to my knowledge I did not hear it that much – at least not so much that it’s used after almost every sentence. But it’s also possible that it’s such a subtle thing, that I may just not hear it (and I’ve been around native Taiwanese people all my life). I know there’s some clear “aaa” or “naa” sounds (as emphasis), but “laa”? I’m not sure. I may just ask my parents tomorrow. I think one thing for sure is that it’s not the same as SE asian usage. In fact, I was under the impression that “la” was just used with singlish (rather than singapore chinese), but the times I’ve encountered this is very few.
One thing to add is that with people that have a heavy Taiwanese accent (especially if you’ve spoken Taiwanese first, and then Mandarin) is that many “l” sounds are pronounced as an “n” sound. For example, today is very cold = jin tian hen neng. This, you probalby hear more clearly from the older generation, ie my parents. So, maybe there’s a “naa/aaa” type sound. But just from casual associations, this “la” thing is something I have not noticed. I’ve never seen it so frequently in writing, as well. I can check back tomorrow though, if I have the time.
puubs - that’s what I’m trying to say. There may be varying degrees of usage of a “la” sound in Taiwan, HK and maybe even China (I certainly don’t hear it day to day in Shanghai), but Singlish and Singaporean Chinese (pick a dialect, any dialect), all you hear is “la.” The Sing “la” and Taiwan/HK “la” are two completely seperate beasts. No modal partical, this is an in your face big ol’ honkin LA. It is used to death. Imagine Bob and Ted say “eh”, magnify the volume about 20 decibles, and you get an idea.
Cool. Some more Canto to add to my vocabulary “pook ghy”, which is short for “sei pook ghy”,
Much like Canadians, New Zealanders and Queenslanders often use “Ay” at the end of their statements.
Just a brief addition. I heard my mom attaching a “la” when speaking to my dad today (in Taiwanese) – the context was somewhat mild disdain, as some people have remarked before. It seemed to be pretty unconscious, since when I asked her if “la” is used in Taiwanese, she’s just like: “what’s that?” 
Anyway, I just wanted to add this, since I haven’t heard from anyone who spoke Taiwanese. I’ve heard “naa/aaa” much more often. I guess I’m pretty hesistant to accept the “la” thing because, no offense to any Singapore people out there – but I just don’t want to sound like you. 
“Pook kai” is not an abbreviation for anything. It doesn’t mean “die lying on the street,” either. “Pook” is fall on your face and “kai” is street. Fall on your face outside in the streets is something that’s perceived to be very humilating.
The term can be applied to one self or to another person. When used on one self it denotes something awful that will happen or have happened to the speaker, hence “woe is me.” When used against another person, it’s literally a curse, wishing something bad happen to that person.
It is incredible that this is even worth arguing about but although I concede you are right about “pook ghy” literally meaning falling on your face or lying on your face in the street, it is often used as an abbreviation to the full statement “sei pook ghy” (die-on your face-in the street). Yes, it can be said directly and literally as a wish upon someone or a desription of their circumstances but it is also used (regardless of the degree of grammatical accuracy) as a noun to describe someone.
Please don’t tell me it isn’t used that way or it doesn’t mean this because I have both been the deliverer and recipient of such curses on a frequent basis and I am sure of the usage.
Aaaah, sei pook ghy LA.
Did I do it right?
One of my friends always says “pook ne chul ghy” (Fall in your stinky street), which, if you live in HK, is probably pretty accurate.
The way I have seen it used “la” would denote a bit of impatience or annoyanceor frustration and possibly is a girlish thing but I have definitely seen it ised by several Cantonese. It could be that it is spreading over the Net.
- I’m feeling tired, I better go to bed.
- Let me tell you what happened today
- I really need to get some sleep, la!
See, “sei” doesn’t mean “die” or “death” in this context. 
It is a way to show contempt towards some other person.
When a woman refers to her husband as “sai lo”, does she mean he is a dead (old) man? Surely not.
As an counterexample consider the curse “hui sei la!”
That literally means “go to die.”
All of you saying that you are Chinese or speak Chinese realize that there are two major languages spoken in China and even more unrecognized languages, right? Then there are dialects of each language. Because someone speaks one way or makes certain sounds who is Chinese doesn’t mean that another Chinese person uses those same words and sounds.
This thread could be clarified by everyone stating which language and which dialect they are referring to.
Everyone has had great input on this topic. Keep it up.