gip3 fu3 zai3 pan4劫富濟貧劫富济贫
Jyutpinggip3 fu3 zai3 pan4
Yalegip fu jai pàhn
Definition
To rob the rich and give to the poor.
neutralpeoplemoney
How it's used
Often associated with legendary figures like Robin Hood or historical Chinese outlaws, this idiom carries a romanticized, heroic connotation. It is rarely used to describe actual criminal activity, as it implies a moral justification for the theft based on social justice. When used in modern contexts, it is frequently applied metaphorically to policies or actions that redistribute wealth.
Examples
They want to be like knights-errant and rob from the rich to give to the poor.
This story is about a hero who robs from the rich and gives to the poor.
Related words
Common phrases
a hero who robs from the rich and gives to the poor
act of robbing from the rich and giving to the poor
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe common theft or robbery, as it specifically implies a Robin Hood style motive of helping the needy. Using it for ordinary crimes will sound sarcastic or confusing.
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.
