mai5 lou6米路
Jyutpingmai5 lou6
Yalemáih louh
Definition
Way to make money; livelihood.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
Refers specifically to one's source of income or livelihood, often with a sense of vulnerability. It is frequently used in the phrase 斷人米路, which describes the act of sabotaging someone's ability to earn a living. The term carries a slightly informal or dramatic tone, often appearing in arguments or discussions about business competition.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Doing that really ruins someone's livelihood.
He found a new way to make money recently and is getting rich.
Related words
Common phrases
to cut off someone's livelihood
to find a way to make money
Common mistake
Do not use this to refer to a literal path or road. It is strictly metaphorical and relates to financial survival rather than general career paths or job hunting.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
