kung4 dou3 nung1窮到燶穷到㶶
Jyutpingkung4 dou3 nung1
Yalekùhng dou nūng
Definition
Extremely poor; absolutely broke.
colloquialmoneydescriptions
How it's used
The suffix 燶 literally refers to food being burnt or scorched, implying that one's finances have been reduced to nothing but ash. It is a highly expressive and informal way to emphasize extreme poverty, often used to describe a temporary state of being broke rather than a permanent socioeconomic status. It carries a self-deprecating or humorous tone when talking about one's own lack of funds.
Examples
He spent too much money recently and is now completely broke.
Related words
Common phrases
broke as a joke
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone's long-term poverty in a serious or formal context, as it sounds flippant and overly dramatic. It is best reserved for casual conversation among friends when discussing personal financial struggles.
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.
