ham6 zek6 fan3 sek6冚蓆瞓石冚席瞓石

Jyutpingham6 zek6 fan3 sek6

Yalehahm jehk fan sehk

Definition

Homeless; to sleep anywhere that is habitable.

colloquialpeopleother

How it's used

This idiom vividly describes the reality of extreme poverty or homelessness by referencing the act of covering oneself with a straw mat and sleeping on hard ground. It carries a heavy, sympathetic tone and is often used to emphasize the severity of someone's past hardships or a desperate situation. It is rarely used to describe camping or temporary outdoor activities, as it specifically implies a lack of shelter.

Examples

keoi5佢ji5以cin4前kung4窮dou3到jiu3要ham6冚zek6蓆fan3瞓sek6石，hou2好caam2慘㗎。

He used to be so poor he had to sleep on the streets, it was miserable.

nei5你gu2估ngo5我soeng2想ham6冚zek6蓆fan3瞓sek6石me1咩，bin1邊go3個soeng2想mou5冇uk1屋zyu6住aa4呀？

Do you think I want to be homeless? Who would want to have no place to live?

Common phrases

kung4窮dou3到ham6冚zek6蓆fan3瞓sek6石

so poor that one is homeless

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to describe casual outdoor activities like camping or sleeping under the stars, as it is strictly reserved for situations involving extreme poverty or homelessness.