maai5 siu2 gin3 siu2買少見少买少见少
Jyutpingmaai5 siu2 gin3 siu2
Yalemáaih síu gin síu
Definition
To become increasingly scarce or fewer in number.
colloquialdescriptionsother
How it's used
This expression carries a sense of nostalgia or urgency, often used when lamenting the disappearance of traditional crafts, old shops, or specific cultural practices. It implies that the item or person is not just rare, but actively fading away from existence. It is rarely used for things that were never common to begin with, focusing instead on the decline of something once familiar.
Examples
These old-style tea houses are really becoming few and far between.
Related words
Common phrases
a vanishing culture
a vanishing traditional shop
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe something that is simply expensive or hard to find because it is popular, like a limited edition sneaker. It specifically refers to things that are vanishing over time due to societal or environmental changes.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
