faat3 kung4 ok3發窮惡发穷恶
Jyutpingfaat3 kung4 ok3
Yalefaat kùhng ok
Definition
To lose one's temper and use one's poverty as an excuse or justification.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Describes a specific social phenomenon where someone feels entitled to be rude or aggressive because they are struggling financially. It carries a strong sense of disapproval, implying that being poor does not grant one the right to mistreat others. It is often used to criticize someone who is being unreasonable or defensive during an argument.
Examples
He is so poor that he is lashing out at people to justify his bad temper.
Don't use your poverty as an excuse to be aggressive, everyone is doing this for your own good.
Related words
Common phrases
someone who uses poverty as an excuse for bad behavior
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being angry or frustrated about money. It specifically refers to the act of using one's financial status as a shield or a justification for abusive behavior.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
