sou3 waan4 sou3 lou6 waan4 lou6數還數，路還路数还数，路还路
Definition
No matter how close the relationship, finances must be kept and settled clearly.
How it's used
This expression serves as a cultural boundary marker in interpersonal relationships, emphasizing that personal affection should not cloud financial accountability. It is frequently invoked when friends or family members engage in business dealings to prevent future resentment or misunderstandings. The phrase acts as a preemptive social contract, signaling that requesting repayment is not a sign of distrust but a necessary practice for maintaining long-term harmony.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general idiom about being organized, but it is specifically reserved for financial or professional boundaries between people who are otherwise close. Using it in a purely professional setting with strangers can sound slightly redundant or overly defensive.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
