maan1 maan1 gan2𢺳𢺳緊𢺳𢺳紧

Jyutpingmaan1 maan1 gan2

Yalemāan māan gán

Definition

Barely enough; marginally making it; just about getting by.

colloquialmoneydescriptions

How it's used

Describes a state of extreme financial or resource scarcity where one is operating right at the limit of what is sustainable. It carries a sense of anxiety or tension, as the subject is constantly on the verge of running out of money, time, or supplies. It is almost exclusively used in contexts involving personal finances or tight schedules.

Examples

ni1呢go3個jyut6月jan4人gung1工dak1得gam3咁siu2少，zan1真hai6係𢺳𢺳gan2緊。

My salary is so low this month, I'm really just scraping by.

nei5你gau3夠m4唔gau3夠cin2錢maai5買fei1飛aa4呀？ding6定hai6係𢺳𢺳gan2緊？

Do you have enough money for the ticket? Or are you just barely making it?

Common phrases

sang1生wut6活𢺳𢺳gan2緊

living paycheck to paycheck

cin2錢𢺳𢺳gan2緊

money is very tight

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 緊緊, which usually refers to something being physically tight or a close margin in a competition. 𢺳𢺳緊 specifically implies a lack of surplus or a precarious situation.