jiu4 cin4 syu6搖錢樹摇钱树

Jyutpingjiu4 cin4 syu6

Yaleyìuh chình syuh

Definition

Legendary tree that sheds coins when shaken

colloquialmoneypeople

How it's used

Focuses on the exploitative nature of a relationship where one party views another solely as a source of wealth. It carries a cynical tone and is frequently used to criticize people who are perceived as greedy or parasitic. While it can refer to inanimate objects like businesses, it is most biting when applied to people.

Measure word

po1樖pō

Examples

keoi5 dong3 zeng3 zi6 gei2 lou5 dau6 hai6 jiu4 cin4 syu6 seng4 jat6 man6 keoi5 lo2 cin2

佢當正自己老豆係搖錢樹，成日問佢攞錢。

He treats his own father like a cash cow and is always asking him for money.

le1 gaan1 pou3 tau2 hai6 keoi5 ge3 jiu4 cin4 syu6 dim2 wui6 ji5 hang2 zap1 lap1 aa4

呢間舖頭係佢嘅搖錢樹，點會肯執笠呀？

This shop is his golden goose, why would he ever want to close it down?

Common phrases

dong1 jan4 hai6 jiu4 cin4 syu6

當人係搖錢樹

to treat someone as a cash cow

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with a literal tree or a positive investment. It is almost exclusively used in a negative or derogatory context to imply that someone is being used or taken advantage of.