pan4貧贫
Jyutpingpan4
Yalepàhn
Definition
To lack, be short of, or be inadequate.
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How it's used
In everyday Cantonese, this character is rarely used in its formal sense of poverty. Instead, it is almost exclusively used in compound words like 貧嘴 to describe someone who is overly talkative, cheeky, or annoying in their speech. It carries a slightly negative connotation of someone who talks too much or makes inappropriate jokes.
Examples
He is very stingy and never wants to treat others.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it is a common way to describe being poor. In Cantonese, use 窮 to describe poverty, as using 貧 on its own to mean poor sounds unnatural and overly literary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
