faat3 coi4發財发财
Jyutpingfaat3 coi4
Yalefaat chòih
Definition
To get rich; to acquire a great deal of wealth.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Beyond the classic Lunar New Year greeting, this term is frequently used to describe someone who has suddenly or unexpectedly come into a large amount of money. It carries a slightly informal tone, often implying a stroke of luck or a successful venture rather than just steady saving. It is common to hear it used in a teasing or hopeful way when talking about friends winning the lottery or starting a new business.
Examples
He got rich doing business last year.
Remember to treat me to a meal once you get rich.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 賺錢, which simply means to earn money or make a profit. 發財 specifically implies a significant increase in wealth or becoming rich, whereas 賺錢 can refer to any amount of income.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
