sik6 sai1 bak1 fung1食西北風食西北风
Jyutpingsik6 sai1 bak1 fung1
Yalesihk sāi bāk fūng
Definition
To have no money for food; to go hungry due to financial difficulty.
colloquialmoneyfood
How it's used
Used primarily to describe a state of extreme poverty or being left with no income. It carries a slightly dramatic or self-deprecating tone, often used when someone is worried about their future financial stability. It is not typically used to describe someone who is currently starving, but rather someone who has no source of money to support their basic needs.
Examples
If I don't find a job soon, I'll really have nothing to eat.
Related words
Common phrases
really going to be broke
sooner or later will have no money
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is actually hungry or skipping a meal due to a busy schedule. It specifically refers to a lack of financial means or income, not a temporary physical sensation of hunger.
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.
