jau5 mai5有米
Jyutpingjau5 mai5
Yaleyáuh máih
Definition
Wealthy or rich, often used in a slightly teasing or playful way.
colloquialmoneyslang
How it's used
Carries a slightly cheeky or envious tone that makes it unsuitable for formal business contexts or when speaking to someone of higher status. It functions as a playful way to highlight someone's perceived affluence, often implying that their wealth is either inherited or flaunted. Using it to describe yourself sounds arrogant or boastful, so it is almost exclusively used to comment on others.
Examples
Wow, you are wearing such an expensive watch today, you are really loaded!
He is so rich usually, why is he so stingy when treating us to a meal?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of having rice, as it is strictly a slang term for wealth. Using it to describe a grocery store or a pantry would be completely misunderstood.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
