ng5 hang4 him3 seoi2五行欠水
Jyutpingng5 hang4 him3 seoi2
Yaleńgh hàhng him séui
Definition
To be short of money, poor, or broke.
colloquialmoneyslang
How it's used
This phrase relies on the cultural pun where water represents wealth in Chinese geomancy. It is a humorous, self-deprecating way to complain about being broke rather than a serious statement about one's fortune. Using it adds a layer of wit to a conversation about financial struggles.
Examples
I'm broke lately, I can't even afford a meal.
You said you were broke, why are you still buying designer brands?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this in formal or professional settings, as it is strictly a colloquial joke. It should only be used among friends or peers who understand the cultural context of water representing money.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
