haai1 jau2揩油
Jyutpinghaai1 jau2
Yalehāai yáu
Definition
To take unfair advantage of others or public resources for minor personal gain.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Originally referring to physical harassment or inappropriate touching, the term has expanded to describe any petty exploitation of resources or situations. It carries a strong negative connotation of being stingy or morally questionable. It is most commonly used in workplace or social settings where someone tries to get a free ride or benefit at someone else's expense.
Examples
He is always taking advantage of company resources, it is really annoying.
Related words
Common phrases
taking advantage of company resources
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being thrifty or saving money. It specifically implies an unfair or sneaky act that inconveniences others, rather than just being careful with personal spending.
Grammar color guide
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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).
