mat6 dai2 syun3 pun4密底算盤密底算盘
Jyutpingmat6 dai2 syun3 pun4
Yalemaht dái syun pùhn
Definition
A very stingy or calculating person who counts every penny.
colloquialpeoplemoney
How it's used
This term is a classic Cantonese riddle phrase where the full expression is 密底算盤，冇漏罅. It describes an abacus with a sealed bottom, implying that not even a single coin can slip through the cracks. It carries a stronger, more vivid sense of calculated stinginess than simply calling someone 小氣.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is such a stingy person, he even wants to calculate every few cents clearly.
Don't be such a stingy person, it doesn't matter if you lose out a little sometimes.
Related words
Common phrases
A stingy person who doesn't let a single cent slip through.
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is just shy or sensitive, which is another common meaning of 小氣. This term is strictly reserved for people who are overly calculating with money or resources.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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.
