baau1 zou1包租
Jyutpingbaau1 zou1
Yalebāau jōu
Definition
To own a property and rent it out to multiple tenants; subletting or operating as a landlord.
colloquialmoneyplaces
How it's used
Often used to describe someone who makes a living primarily through rental income from multiple units. It carries a slightly informal tone and is frequently associated with older, multi-story residential buildings in older districts. Unlike the more formal term 業主, which simply means property owner, this specifically emphasizes the act of leasing out space to others.
Examples
He is a landlord, the whole building belongs to him.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid confusing this with 租客, which refers to the tenant renting the space. Also, note that it is not used for someone who owns a single home they live in themselves.
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.
