gai1 seoi3 gam2 do1雞碎咁多鸡碎咁多
Jyutpinggai1 seoi3 gam2 do1
Yalegāi seui gám dō
Definition
A tiny amount; a pittance.
colloquialmoneyfood
How it's used
Refers specifically to a pitifully small amount of money or resources. It carries a strong sense of dissatisfaction or complaint, often used when someone feels insulted by a low wage or a small bonus. The imagery evokes the tiny grains of food a chicken pecks at, emphasizing how insufficient the amount is for survival.
Examples
His salary is so tiny, how can it be enough to support the family?
Related words
Common phrases
the salary is just a pittance
to give a tiny, insulting amount
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe physical size or length, as it is almost exclusively reserved for financial contexts or small quantities of resources. It is not a general-purpose way to say something is small.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
