ngaai4 min6 baau1捱麵包挨面包
Jyutpingngaai4 min6 baau1
Yalengàaih mihn bāau
Definition
To struggle by on a tight food budget; to live on bread to save money.
colloquialfoodmoney
How it's used
This expression captures the specific struggle of living on a very tight budget where food expenses are cut to the bare minimum. It implies a sense of hardship and temporary sacrifice rather than a dietary preference. While it literally mentions bread, it serves as a metaphor for any cheap, repetitive, or unfulfilling meal consumed out of financial necessity.
Examples
Money is tight lately, so I have to survive on bread.
How much longer do you have to keep surviving on bread?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who simply likes eating bread. It must imply that the person is forced to do so because they are short on money.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
