bou6 lei6暴利
Jyutpingbou6 lei6
Yalebouh leih
Definition
Exorbitant, sudden, or windfall profits.
neutralmoney
How it's used
Often carries a strong negative connotation, implying that the profit is gained through unethical, illegal, or exploitative means. It is frequently used in news reports or consumer complaints to describe businesses that take advantage of shortages or crises to hike prices. Unlike general profit, it suggests a lack of moral restraint in business practices.
Examples
They opened the shop specifically to make exorbitant profits.
Common phrases
to seek exorbitant profits
to make a fortune through exorbitant profits
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a successful business that makes a high profit through legitimate hard work or innovation. It specifically implies greed or exploitation, so using it to describe a successful entrepreneur might sound like an accusation of corruption.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
