saai1 liu2嘥料

Jyutpingsaai1 liu2

Yalesāai líu

Definition

To waste good materials, talents, or resources.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Focuses on the squandering of potential or high quality resources rather than just general waste. It often carries a sense of regret or frustration that talent, expensive items, or rare opportunities are being ignored or misused. Use it when you see someone failing to appreciate or utilize something valuable.

Examples

nei5你maai5買gam3咁gwai3貴ge3嘅saam1衫m4唔zoek3著，zan1真hai6係saai1嘥liu2料aa4呀。

You bought such expensive clothes but never wear them, what a waste of good stuff.

keoi5佢gam3咁hou2好ge3嘅cyu4廚ngai6藝，zou6做man4文jyun4員mai1咪saai1嘥liu2料lo3囉？

With his great cooking skills, wouldn't it be a waste for him to work as a clerk?

Common phrases

zan1真hai6係saai1嘥liu2料

really a waste of good stuff

gaan2簡zik6直saai1嘥liu2料

simply a waste of good stuff

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 嘥氣, which refers to wasting one's breath or effort on something futile. 嘥料 specifically targets the material or talent being wasted, whereas 嘥氣 targets the act of trying.