pin3 dei6 wong4 gam1遍地黃金遍地黄金
Jyutpingpin3 dei6 wong4 gam1
Yalepin deih wòhng gām
Definition
A place full of profitable business or job opportunities.
colloquialmoneyplaces
How it's used
This idiom is frequently used to describe the perception of a city as a land of opportunity, often reflecting the immigrant experience or the optimism of a booming economy. It carries a slightly nostalgic or ironic tone when used today, as it is often contrasted with the reality of high costs of living or intense competition. While it literally suggests gold is scattered on the ground, it is strictly metaphorical and never used to describe actual physical wealth lying around.
Examples
People used to say Hong Kong was full of opportunities, and everyone wanted to come here to make a living.
Do you think there are easy riches everywhere abroad? Life is actually quite tough.
Related words
Common phrases
to say that Hong Kong is a land of opportunity
to mistakenly believe that there are easy riches everywhere
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a place that is literally wealthy or filled with expensive items, as it specifically refers to the abundance of potential for earning money through work or business.
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.
