dou3 tip3倒貼倒贴
Jyutpingdou3 tip3
Yaledou tip
Definition
To lose money instead of making a profit, or to pay out of one's own pocket to support someone or something.
- to lose money instead of making a profit; to pay out of one's own pocket
- datedto support one's lover financially, typically of a woman paying for a man
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
Focuses on the irony of losing money while performing a service or maintaining a relationship, rather than just a simple financial loss. It implies that the situation has reversed from earning money to actively losing it. The term is frequently used in romantic contexts to describe someone who spends their own money to support a partner, often implying a lack of reciprocity.
Examples
This business is losing so much money that I have to pay out of my own pocket to keep it going.
Related words
Common phrases
to pay out of one's own pocket to cover a loss
to work a job where one ends up paying money to the employer
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simple loss like 蝕錢, which just means to lose money. 倒貼 specifically carries the nuance of having to pay extra or sacrifice personal funds to sustain a situation that should ideally be profitable or neutral.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
