si5 kui2市膾市脍
Jyutpingsi5 kui2
Yalesíh kúi
Definition
Materialistic, snobbish, and excessively focused on money or personal gain.
colloquialpeoplemoney
How it's used
Describes someone who is perceived as vulgar or shallow because they evaluate everything through a financial lens. It carries a strong negative judgment, implying a lack of refinement or moral depth. It is more specific than simply being greedy, as it highlights a social attitude that prioritizes profit over relationships or principles.
Examples
He is such a materialistic person, he only knows how to talk about money.
Don't be so money-minded, we are friends after all.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 貪錢, which is a more direct way to say someone is greedy. 市膾 suggests a broader, more cynical personality trait rather than just a desire for wealth.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
