haan1 di1 laa1慳啲啦悭啲啦
Jyutpinghaan1 di1 laa1
Yalehāan dī lā
Definition
An expression used to tell someone to save resources, or to stop pretending and acting up.
- to tell someone to not waste resources, especially money or food
- to tell someone to cut it out, stop pretending, or stop acting up
colloquialmoneyslang
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning of saving money or resources, this phrase is frequently used as a biting retort to someone who is being pretentious, showing off, or acting out of touch with reality. It functions as a dismissive way to tell someone to stop their act or to get a grip on their behavior. The tone is almost always confrontational or mocking, making it inappropriate for polite or formal settings.
Examples
Stop pretending, this shirt doesn't suit you at all.
Why buy so many snacks? Don't be so wasteful.
Related words
Common phrases
Give it a rest (you).
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a genuine piece of financial advice, but it is rarely used that way in conversation. Using it on a stranger or someone you do not know well will likely be perceived as rude or aggressive.
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.
