paak3 sau2 mou4 can4拍手無塵拍手无尘
Definition
To have absolutely no money left; to be completely broke.
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes a state of total financial depletion by evoking the image of clapping one's hands together and finding no dust, implying that even the smallest remnants of wealth are gone. It is used exclusively in informal contexts to emphasize a sudden or complete loss of liquid cash. Unlike formal terms for poverty, this expression carries a slightly self-deprecating or dramatic tone often used when discussing personal spending habits.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal cleanliness or hygiene, as the phrase is strictly metaphorical for being broke. It is also not interchangeable with general poverty, as it specifically refers to the immediate aftermath of spending or losing money.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
