Etymology

add value machine

Today it means: A machine that adds money to (tops up) public transport cards. Full definition →

Cantonese 增值機 /增值机
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The story

  1. Cantonese · calque of增值機 /增值机
  2. English todayadd value machine

Calque of Cantonese 增值機 /增值机 (zang¹ zik⁶ gei¹).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.