baak6 sau2白手
Jyutpingbaak6 sau2
Yalebaahk sáu
Definition
Empty-handed; starting from nothing.
- empty-handed
- figurativestarting from scratch or building up from nothing
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Focuses on the state of having nothing to offer or starting without resources. While often used in the idiom 白手興家 to describe entrepreneurial success, it also functions as a literal description of arriving somewhere without bringing any items or gifts.
Examples
He really started from nothing back then, he's amazing.
Are you planning to go to the interview empty-handed? Bring a resume.
Related words
Common phrases
to build up a family fortune from scratch
to start a business from nothing
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it might imply being penniless in a more negative sense. In Cantonese, it is frequently used in a positive, admiring context to praise someone's hard work and self-made success.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
