nong4 hung1 jyu4 sai2囊空如洗
Jyutpingnong4 hung1 jyu4 sai2
Yalenòhng hūng yùh sái
Definition
Penniless; having no money at all, with pockets as empty as if they have been washed.
writtenmoney
How it's used
This idiom is a formal, literary expression that is often used in a slightly humorous or self-deprecating way when speaking Cantonese. While it describes having no money, it carries a more dramatic and descriptive flair than simply saying 冇錢. It is common to see it used in writing or more expressive speech rather than in casual, rapid-fire conversation.
Examples
I've been spending too much lately, I'm completely broke.
Are you broke, which is why you aren't going to eat?
Related words
Common phrases
days of being broke
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common slang term, but it is actually a four-character idiom. Using it in a very casual setting might sound slightly out of place or overly formal if not delivered with the right tone.
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.
