soeng6 uk1 bun1 haa6 uk1, m4 gin3 jat1 lo4 guk1上屋搬下屋，唔見一籮穀上屋搬下屋，唔见一箩谷

Jyutpingsoeng6 uk1 bun1 haa6 uk1, m4 gin3 jat1 lo4 guk1

Yaleseuhng ūk būn hah uk1, m̀h gin yāt lòh gūk

Definition

An expression used to advise against moving house, noting that any move is costly and troublesome.

colloquialhomemoney

How it's used

This proverb serves as a traditional warning about the hidden costs and inevitable losses associated with moving, even if the new location is just downstairs. It emphasizes the value of stability and the physical and financial toll of packing, transporting, and replacing items. It is often used by older generations to discourage younger people from moving frequently for trivial reasons.

Examples

soeng6上uk1屋bun1搬haa5下uk1屋，m4唔gin3見jat1一lo1籮guk1穀，nei5你dou1都hai6係m4唔hou2好bun1搬laa1啦。

Moving house is a huge hassle and costs a fortune, you really shouldn't move.

bun1搬uk1屋gam3咁maa4麻faan4煩，soeng6上uk1屋bun1搬haa5下uk1屋，m4唔gin3見jat1一lo1籮guk1穀，nei5你nam2諗cing1清co2楚mei6未aa4呀？

Moving is such a pain, you lose so much in the process, have you thought it through?

Common phrases

bun1搬uk1屋

to move house

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of farming or grain storage, but it is strictly a metaphorical warning about the hidden expenses of moving house. Do not use it to describe actual agricultural loss.