ngoi6 lau4外流
Jyutpingngoi6 lau4
Yalengoih làuh
Definition
To flow out, drain away, or leak to the outside.
neutralmoneypeople
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the movement of valuable resources, such as money, talent, or information, away from a specific entity or region. It carries a negative connotation, implying a loss that weakens the original source. While it can be used for physical liquids, it is far more common in economic or social contexts.
Examples
Many talented people have drained away to develop their careers abroad in recent years.
Why is this company experiencing the problem of capital outflow?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple physical movement of people or objects, as it implies a loss of value or control. Do not use it for everyday items like water leaking from a pipe, where 漏水 is more appropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
