mau1 dan1踎躉踎趸

Jyutpingmau1 dan1

Yalemāu dān

Definition

Unemployed; out of work.

colloquialworkpeople

How it's used

Derived from the posture of squatting, this term vividly describes someone who is idle or jobless. It carries a slightly derogatory or self-deprecating tone, implying the person is just hanging around without purpose. It is much more informal than the standard term 失業.

Examples

keoi5佢sat1失jip6業zi1之hau6後，jat6日jat6日喺hai2屋uk1企kei2踎mau1躉。

After he lost his job, he has been sitting around at home doing nothing every day.

nei5你m4唔hou2好zoi3再mau1踎dan1躉laa3喇，faai3快di1啲wan2搵fan2份gung1工zou6做laa1啦。

Stop being unemployed and sitting around, go find a job quickly.

Common phrases

喺hai2屋uk1企kei2踎mau1躉

staying at home unemployed

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the literal act of squatting, which is also called 踎. When used to mean unemployed, it specifically highlights the lack of activity rather than just the physical position.