mei4 bok6微薄
Jyutpingmei4 bok6
Yalemèih bohk
Definition
Scanty, meager, or small in quantity.
writtenmoneydescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the insufficiency of something, usually money, resources, or personal contributions. It carries a formal or literary tone that is often used in written contexts or when someone is being humble about their own efforts. In casual daily speech, people are more likely to use words like 少 or 唔夠.
Examples
His salary is so meager, how can he support his family?
Although this is a meager gift, it is my sincere gesture.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical size or small objects, as it is strictly reserved for abstract quantities like income, strength, or contributions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
