lak6 gan2 fu3 tau4勒緊褲頭勒紧裤头

Jyutpinglak6 gan2 fu3 tau4

Yalelahk gán fu tàuh

Definition

To tighten one's belt; to cut down on expenses due to financial difficulty.

colloquialmoney

How it's used

This idiom carries a sense of shared hardship and necessity, often used when discussing family budgets or broader economic downturns. It implies a conscious, often painful, decision to sacrifice luxuries to ensure basic needs are met. Unlike simply saying 慳錢, which is a neutral instruction to save money, this phrase emphasizes the severity of the financial situation.

Examples

ging1經zai3濟m4唔hou2好，ngo5我dei6哋wai4唯jau5有laak6勒gan2緊fu3褲tau4頭gwo3過jat6日zi2子。

The economy is bad, so we have no choice but to tighten our belts to get by.

nei5你zung6仲maai5買gam3咁do1多san1新saam1衫？zan1真hai6係jiu3要laak6勒gan2緊fu3褲tau4頭laa3喇。

You are still buying so many new clothes? You really need to start cutting back on spending.

Common phrases

laak6勒gan2緊fu3褲tau4頭gwo3過jat6日zi2子

tighten one's belt to get by

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to describe someone who is naturally frugal or stingy, as it specifically refers to a reaction to financial pressure or a lack of funds.