hek3 kwai1吃虧吃亏
Jyutpinghek3 kwai1
Yalehek kwāi
Definition
To suffer a loss, be at a disadvantage, or get the worst of a situation.
- to suffer a loss; to be at a disadvantage
- to have one's shortcomings highlighted by comparison with others
colloquialother
How it's used
蝕底 is the standard colloquial term for being at a disadvantage or suffering a loss due to circumstances. It is frequently used to describe situations where one lacks a specific advantage, such as height, language skills, or experience, compared to others. Unlike the formal 吃虧, which can sound slightly literary or like Mandarin, 蝕底 is the natural choice in daily conversation.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 吃虧 because it looks like a standard Chinese word, but it sounds unnatural in spoken Cantonese. Always use 蝕底 to sound like a local.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
