ngaai4 guk1 zung2捱穀種挨谷种

Jyutpingngaai4 guk1 zung2

Yalengàaih gūk júng

語句

Definition

To live on one's savings due to having no source of income.

colloquialmoneydaily actions

How it's used

This expression carries a strong sense of desperation and financial hardship. It originates from the agricultural practice of saving seeds for the next planting season, which farmers would only eat as a last resort when facing starvation. Using it implies that you have exhausted your regular income and are now consuming your final safety net.

Examples

sat1失jip6業zi1之hau6後zan1真hai6係jiu3要ngaai4捱guk1穀zung2種，haan1慳di1啲sai2使sin1先dak1得。

I really have to live off my savings after losing my job, I must spend carefully.

nei5你zung6仲jau5有gei2幾do1多cin2錢ngaai4捱guk1穀zung2種aa4呀？

How much money do you have left to live on?

Common phrases

ngaai4捱guk1穀zung2種gwo3過jat6日zi2子

to live off one's savings

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply being poor or having low income. It specifically describes the act of consuming one's capital or emergency savings because there is zero cash flow coming in.