lou5 bun2老本
Jyutpinglou5 bun2
Yalelóuh bún
Definition
One's accumulated savings, capital, assets, or resources.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
Refers specifically to resources or capital built up over a long period that are now being depleted. While often used for money, it is frequently applied to professional skills or reputation, implying that one is not currently creating new value but relying on past achievements.
Examples
After retiring, he has been living off his savings.
If you don't study to improve yourself, you'll soon run out of your accumulated knowledge.
Related words
Common phrases
to live off one's savings or past achievements
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general savings like 儲蓄. Eating老本 carries a negative or desperate connotation, suggesting that the supply is finite and will eventually run out if not replenished.
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.
