dan3 haa1 lung4扽蝦籠扽虾笼
Jyutpingdan3 haa1 lung4
Yaledan hā lùhng
Definition
To empty one's wallet or spend all of one's money.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes the act of turning a basket upside down to shake out every last prawn, mirroring the process of spending every cent one has. It carries a slightly self-deprecating or humorous tone, often used when someone has made a large, perhaps impulsive, purchase. It is specifically tied to the context of emptying one's savings or wallet completely.
Examples
I really emptied my wallet on this trip.
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe just any spending; it specifically implies spending everything or clearing out one's funds. It is a colorful idiom rather than a standard verb for buying things.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
