me1 zau1 san1 zaai3孭周身債孭周身债
Jyutpingme1 zau1 san1 zaai3
Yalemē jāu sān jaai
Definition
To be heavily in debt; to owe a vast amount of money.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
The character 孭 literally refers to carrying something on one's back, which vividly captures the feeling of debt as a heavy, inescapable burden. It is almost exclusively used to describe a state of being overwhelmed by financial obligations to many different people or institutions. You will rarely hear it used for a small or manageable debt.
Examples
His business failed, and he ended up heavily in debt.
You are still so heavily in debt, how can you go on a trip?
Related words
Common phrases
carrying a heavy load of debt
Common mistake
Do not use this for simple, small debts like owing a friend a few dollars for lunch. It implies a serious, life-altering level of financial distress.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
