cing1 pan4清貧清贫
Jyutpingcing1 pan4
Yalechīng pàhn
Definition
Living a poor and simple life.
neutralpeoplemoney
How it's used
Carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to everyday words like 窮 or 冇錢. It implies a sense of dignity or simplicity despite the lack of material wealth, often used when describing students or scholars who remain focused on their goals despite financial hardship.
Examples
Although his family is poor, he is very good at his studies.
Have you ever seen how families living in poverty get by?
Related words
Common phrases
students from low-income families
living a life of poverty
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply lazy or destitute due to poor choices, as it carries a connotation of honorable or unavoidable poverty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
