sau2 tau4 gan2手頭緊手头紧
Jyutpingsau2 tau4 gan2
Yalesáu tàuh gán
Definition
Short of money; tight on cash.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Expresses a temporary state of financial difficulty rather than long term poverty. It functions as an adjective and is often used to politely decline invitations or explain why one cannot afford a purchase. The phrase carries a slightly informal tone that makes it useful for social situations where you need to save face while admitting you cannot spend.
Examples
I am short of money lately, could you lend me some?
He is strapped for cash recently and does not even dare to eat out.
Related words
Common phrases
short of money recently
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is genuinely poor or destitute, as it specifically implies a temporary lack of liquidity. It is not meant to describe a permanent financial status.
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.
