naai5 fan2 cin4*2奶粉錢奶粉钱

Jyutpingnaai5 fan2 cin4*2

Yalenáaih fán chín4*

Definition

Money spent on raising one's child, such as for food and education.

colloquialmoneyfamily

How it's used

This term is used metaphorically to describe the financial burden of raising a child, extending far beyond the actual cost of formula milk. It is frequently employed by parents to explain why they are taking on extra work or cannot afford luxury items. The phrase carries a sense of parental sacrifice and the reality of high living costs in Hong Kong.

Examples

keoi5佢wai6為zo2咗wan2搵naai5奶fan2粉cin2錢，jat6日jat6日dou1都jiu3要OT。

He has to work overtime every day to earn money for his child.

nei5你jau6又jiu1要gung1供lau2樓jau6又jiu1要cou5儲naai5奶fan2粉cin4錢，zan1真hai6係hou2好san1辛fu2苦。

You have to pay the mortgage and save for your child's expenses, it's really tough.

Common phrases

zaan6賺naai5奶fan2粉cin2錢

to earn money for one's child

cou5儲naai5奶fan2粉cin4錢

to save money for one's child

Common mistake

Do not use this term to refer to actual money spent on baby formula in a literal sense, as it is almost exclusively used as a general idiom for child-rearing expenses.