pan4 fat6貧乏贫乏
Jyutpingpan4 fat6
Yalepàhn faht
Definition
Poor, lacking, or highly deficient in something.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on a lack of abstract or intangible qualities, such as vocabulary, imagination, or resources, rather than just financial poverty. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone compared to everyday words like 窮 or 冇. Using it to describe a person's bank account sounds unnatural, as it is better suited for describing the state of an environment or a concept.
Examples
This place is very lacking in resources.
Do you feel like your life is very empty?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 窮, which specifically refers to being broke or having no money. Using 貧乏 to describe a person's financial status is incorrect; stick to 窮 for money and 貧乏 for lack of substance or supply.
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.
