jan4 sik6 maau5 loeng4寅食卯糧寅食卯粮

Jyutpingjan4 sik6 maau5 loeng4

Yaleyàhn sihk máauh lèuhng

Definition

To live beyond one's means; to spend next month's food in the current month, resulting in an overdraft.

writtenmoney

How it's used

Originating from the traditional Chinese calendar system where the twelve earthly branches represent time, this idiom implies using the income of the next period to cover current expenses. It carries a strong sense of financial irresponsibility and short-sightedness. While it is a formal idiom, it is frequently used in news reports and serious discussions about personal or national debt.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日jan4寅sik6食maau5卯loeng4糧，gaau2搞dou3到him3欠zaai3債leoi4纍leoi4纍。

He is always living beyond his means, which has led to heavy debt.

nei5你zoi3再gam3咁joeng6樣jan4寅sik6食maau5卯loeng4糧，ci4遲zou2早wui2會po3破caan2產㗎。

If you keep spending more than you earn like this, you will go bankrupt sooner or later.

Common phrases

sang1生wut6活jan4寅sik6食maau5卯loeng4糧

living beyond one's means

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple description of being poor, but it specifically describes the act of borrowing against future income or spending money before it is actually earned.