mau1 dau1踎兜
Jyutpingmau1 dau1
Yalemāu dāu
Definition
To be unemployed, broke, or living in extreme poverty.
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
Originating from the image of a beggar sitting on the ground with a bowl, this term carries a strong sense of pity or self-deprecation regarding financial hardship. It is much more vivid and informal than standard terms for unemployment like 失業. Use it carefully as it can sound quite harsh or insulting when applied to someone else's situation.
Examples
After he lost his job, he has been unemployed and broke at home all the time.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being busy or sitting down, as the term specifically implies a state of poverty or lack of income. It is not used in professional or formal settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
