Skip to main content
Arts & Entertainment

Keanu Reeves Speaks Some Vulgar Cantonese in ‘John Wick 4,’ Delighting Chinese Audiences

Written by Han LiPublished Mar. 24, 2023 • 3:30pm
Keanu Reeves attends the L.A. premiere of "John Wick: Chapter 4" at TCL Chinese Theatre on March 20, 2023. | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Cantonese-speaking moviegoers around the globe were privy to a cinematic Easter egg of sorts in the latest John Wick movie. In one scene, Keanu Reeves speaks some profanities in that audience’s native tongue, together with Hong Kong film star Donnie Yen.

Reeves’ exact line of dialogue was “Ham gaa caan (冚家鏟),” a commonly used term that translates into “May your whole family be bulldozed.” The English subtitle in the movie uses “prick,” a rendering that may downplay its severity somewhat. In terms of its rudeness, the phrase is roughly on par with “You’re a piece of shit.”

Until now, "John Wick: Chapter 4" had largely been notable because of the March 17 death of cast member Lance Reddick.

Chinese-language media in Hong Kong have reacted in an almost giddy fashion, with a wave of celebratory coverage for Reeves, who is of partial Chinese descent.

In an interview with Singaporean media, Reeves said the idea came from his co-star, Yen, who asked the 58-year-old star of "The Matrix" and "Speed" to swear back at him in Cantonese, which many Chinese-speaking audiences were not expecting to hear.

“I hope [my pronunciation] wasn’t too bad,” Reeves said. “I have to learn it on the fly.”

According to HK01, a local media outlet in Hong Kong, the audience in the theater burst into laughter during the scene.

Han Li can be reached at han@sfstandard.com


Folsom Street Fair and Other Things To Do in San Francisco This Weekend

Folsom Street Fair and Other Things To Do in San Francisco This Weekend


Outdoor Performance Park Planned for San Francisco Symphony’s Parking Lot

Outdoor Performance Park Planned for San Francisco Symphony’s Parking Lot


At Chase Center, Chinese Superstar Eason Chan Mocks San Francisco’s Dirty Streets

At Chase Center, Chinese Superstar Eason Chan Mocks San Francisco’s Dirty Streets


Game of Thrones Author, Other Writers Sue ChatGPT Parent Company

Game of Thrones Author, Other Writers Sue ChatGPT Parent Company


Deepfakes, Chatbots and AI: San Francisco Museum Asks the Hairy Questions

Deepfakes, Chatbots and AI: San Francisco Museum Asks the Hairy Questions