hei2 mei5 zyu3起尾注
Definition
To swindle someone of all their money by offering initial small gains to entice a heavy final bet.
- to swindle someone of all their assets by baiting them to make a huge bet
- slangto betray or cheat a friend or business partner
How it's used
Originally referring to a specific sleight of hand in gambling where a player lures others into a large pot before winning it all, this term has expanded to describe any situation where someone is lured into a false sense of security before being betrayed or exploited. It carries a strong connotation of premeditated malice and betrayal, often involving a partner or someone trusted. While it implies a financial loss, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe being backstabbed in business or personal relationships.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply losing money or being unlucky. It specifically requires the element of being lured or set up by someone you trusted, making it a much stronger accusation than just being cheated.
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).



