san1 mou4 coeng4 mat6身無長物身无长物
Jyutpingsan1 mou4 coeng4 mat6
Yalesān mòuh chèuhng maht
Definition
To have only the bare necessities; to have no extra or valuable belongings.
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly literary or formal tone despite being used in everyday speech to describe someone who is destitute. It specifically emphasizes the lack of valuable assets rather than just a lack of cash. People often use it to highlight a stark contrast between someone's past status and their current state of poverty.
Examples
He lost all his money and now has nothing to his name.
You think he is rich, but actually he has absolutely nothing.
Related words
Common phrases
to be so down and out that one has nothing left
Common mistake
Learners often mistake the character 長 for 'long', but here it means 'extra' or 'surplus'. It is not used to describe physical height or length in this context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
