sin1 sai2 mei6 loi4 cin4先使未來錢先使未来钱
Jyutpingsin1 sai2 mei6 loi4 cin4
Yalesīn sái meih lòih chìhn
Definition
To spend money one has not yet earned, such as by borrowing or heavily using credit cards.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This phrase carries a strong sense of disapproval and is typically used to warn someone about their poor financial habits. It specifically highlights the danger of relying on credit or loans for non-essential consumption rather than investing or saving. While it describes the act of using credit, it is never used to describe responsible borrowing like taking out a mortgage for a home.
Examples
You always spend money you haven't earned yet, how will you ever save enough to buy a flat?
You're spending money you don't have by swiping your card so much, how are you going to pay the bill next month?
Related words
Common phrases
always spending money one has not yet earned
to kick the habit of spending money one has not yet earned
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe taking out a mortgage or a student loan, as those are considered necessary investments rather than reckless spending. It is reserved for impulsive or excessive consumption that leads to debt.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
