tan1 hau2 seoi2 joeng5 meng6吞口水養命吞口水养命

Jyutpingtan1 hau2 seoi2 joeng5 meng6

Yaletān háu séui yéuhng mehng

Definition

Extremely poor, with barely enough to survive on.

colloquialmoneypeople

How it's used

This idiom vividly depicts a state of extreme destitution where one has nothing to eat but their own saliva. It is used to emphasize a desperate financial situation rather than a literal health condition. While it sounds slightly dramatic, it is a common way to express sympathy or shock regarding someone's lack of resources.

Examples

keoi5佢kung4窮dou3到jiu3要tan1吞hau2口seoi2水joeng5養meng6命，zan1真hai6係hou2好caam2慘。

He is so poor he can barely survive, it is truly miserable.

nei5你ji5以wai4為go3個go3個dou1都tan1吞hau2口seoi2水joeng5養meng6命me1咩？

Do you think everyone is living in such extreme poverty?

Common phrases

kung4窮dou3到tan1吞hau2口seoi2水joeng5養meng6命

so poor that one is barely surviving

Common mistake

Avoid using this phrase to describe someone who is simply frugal or saving money, as it specifically implies a total lack of means to afford basic necessities.