gwaat3 lung2刮龍刮龙
Definition
To make a lot of money through illegal or unethical means, or to engage in corruption.
- to make a lot of money through illegal or unethical means
- to bribe; to corrupt; to embezzle
How it's used
This term carries a strong negative connotation, specifically implying that the wealth was acquired through exploitation, corruption, or illicit black market activities. While it has historical roots in currency manipulation, it is now used broadly to describe anyone abusing their position for personal financial gain. It is considered quite harsh and is typically used to criticize or gossip about someone's unethical behavior.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal action involving dragons or physical scraping. It is strictly a slang term for corruption or illicit profiteering, so it should never be used to describe legitimate business success or hard work.
Grammar color guide
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).
