daa2 saan2打散

Jyutpingdaa2 saan2

Yaledá sáan

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To break a large banknote; to change money into smaller denominations or coins.

colloquialmoney

How it's used

Refers specifically to the act of exchanging a high denomination banknote for smaller coins or notes. It is frequently used in service settings like shops or restaurants where cashiers might be reluctant to break large bills if the purchase amount is small. The term carries a sense of convenience, as having smaller denominations is essential for public transport or vending machines.

Examples

m4唔hou2好ji3意si1思，ceng2請man6問jau5有mou5冇saan2散zi2紙ho2可ji5以bong1幫ngo5我daa2打saan2散le1呢zoeng1張ngan4銀zi2紙？

Excuse me, do you have any small change to help me break this banknote?

ngo5我heoi3去bin6便lei6利dim3店maai5買je5嘢，seon6順bin2便daa2打saan2散zo2咗zoeng1張ng5五baak3百man1蚊zi2紙。

I went to the convenience store to buy something and broke a five-hundred dollar note while I was at it.

Common phrases

daa2打saan2散zoeng1張ngan4銀zi2紙

break a banknote

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage of 打散, which can mean to disperse a crowd or break up a group. In Cantonese, the context of money is almost always implied when using this verb.