jin6 gam1 gan2 zyut3現金緊拙现金紧拙
Jyutpingjin6 gam1 gan2 zyut3
Yaleyihn gām gán jyut
Definition
To be short of cash; tight on money.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This phrase is a formal way to describe a lack of liquid assets, often used in business or financial contexts. While it can be used in daily conversation, it carries a slightly more serious or professional tone compared to saying 冇錢. It specifically refers to cash flow issues rather than a general lack of wealth.
Examples
Business hasn't been good lately, leaving me short on cash.
Related words
Common phrases
to experience a cash crunch
to resolve a cash flow problem
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for being permanently poor, but it specifically describes a temporary liquidity problem. Avoid using it to describe someone who is generally broke or destitute.
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.
