him3 san1欠薪
Jyutpinghim3 san1
Yalehim sān
Definition
To owe wages; default on paying employees' salaries past the due date.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the failure to pay wages by a set deadline, often implying a systemic or prolonged issue rather than a simple delay. It carries a serious, often legalistic tone that is frequently used in news reports or when discussing labor disputes. While it functions as a verb, it is also commonly used as a noun phrase to describe the situation of unpaid wages.
Examples
The company has owed us three months of wages, what should we do?
The boss is always withholding wages, we must go to the Labour Department to file a complaint.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general debt or owing money to friends, which would be 欠錢 or 爭錢. This term is strictly reserved for the employer and employee relationship regarding salary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
