nou5 mun5 coeng2 fei4腦滿腸肥脑满肠肥
Jyutpingnou5 mun5 coeng2 fei4
Yalenóuh múhn chéung fèih
Definition
To have fat cheeks and a pot belly; well-fed but idle.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who appears wealthy and well-fed but lacks intellectual or physical vigor. It carries a strong sense of disdain, implying that the person has become lazy and useless due to a life of excess and comfort. It is often used to criticize corrupt officials or greedy business owners who are perceived as disconnected from the struggles of ordinary people.
Examples
He just sits there doing nothing all day, looking completely bloated and idle.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply overweight, as it specifically implies a moral or character flaw related to laziness and lack of contribution. It is a harsh insult rather than a neutral physical description.
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.
