jat1 san1 zaai3一身債一身债
Jyutpingjat1 san1 zaai3
Yaleyāt sān jaai
Definition
Heavily in debt; deeply in debt.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This expression functions as a descriptive state rather than a literal count of financial obligations. It carries a heavy, often judgmental tone, implying that the person has reached a point of being overwhelmed or ruined by their financial situation. It is frequently used to describe someone who has lost money through gambling or reckless spending.
Examples
He gambled until he was in deep debt.
You still want to borrow money? You are already drowning in debt.
Related words
Common phrases
to be in deep debt due to gambling
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a single, specific debt or a formal business loan. It specifically describes the state of being burdened by multiple or significant debts that affect one's overall life.
Grammar color guide
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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).
