maa1 fan2孖份
Jyutpingmaa1 fan2
Yalemā fán
Definition
To form a partnership between two people, especially for business or investment ventures.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
This term specifically implies a two-person partnership, as the character 孖 refers to twins or a pair. It is frequently used when splitting the cost of an investment or sharing the workload of a project. While it can apply to various tasks, it carries a strong connotation of shared financial risk or shared ownership.
Examples
The two of them plan to go halves on buying this shop.
Have you thought it through before going into business with him?
Related words
Common phrases
to go into business together
to go halves on a purchase
Common mistake
Do not use this word for partnerships involving more than two people, as it strictly denotes a pair. For larger groups, use terms like 合夥 or 合作 instead.
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.
