dou3 diu3 ho4 baau1倒吊荷包
Jyutpingdou3 diu3 ho4 baau1
Yaledou diu hòh bāau
Definition
To spend money unnecessarily or make a loss that cannot be avoided, often willingly.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes the feeling of being forced to pay out money that one would rather keep. It carries a sense of helplessness or resignation, as if one is being turned upside down until every last coin falls out of their pocket. It is often used when facing unexpected repair costs, fines, or being forced into a bad business deal.
Examples
I broke the car this time, I really have to bleed money for it.
Related words
Common phrases
forced to spend money unwillingly
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe regular or planned expenses like rent or groceries. It specifically implies an involuntary or painful financial loss that feels like a penalty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
