fo1 seoi2科水
Jyutpingfo1 seoi2
Yalefō séui
Definition
To chip in, pay money, or provide substantial funding or subsidies for a shared expense.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Carries a slightly informal or even cynical tone, often implying that the money is being extracted or demanded rather than given willingly. It is frequently used when discussing shared expenses among friends or when criticizing a lack of funding from authorities. The term implies a sense of obligation or the necessity of coughing up cash to solve a problem.
Examples
Let's all chip in for dinner tonight.
Have you agreed to pay up to help him settle this yet?
Related words
Common phrases
to pay to support a business
to pay to get something settled
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal business settings or when speaking to superiors, as it can sound dismissive or disrespectful. It is strictly for casual conversation among peers or when complaining about financial support.
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.
