tin4 sou3填數填数
Jyutpingtin4 sou3
Yaletìhn sou
Definition
To settle a debt, or to secretly replace money that was taken.
- to settle a debt; to pay back what is owed
- to secretly replace money that one has previously taken
colloquialmoney
How it's used
Originally referring to the act of balancing accounts or filling in missing figures in a ledger, this term has evolved into a common way to describe paying off debts, especially those owed to loan sharks or informal lenders. It carries a sense of urgency or pressure, as if one is desperately trying to plug a hole in their finances. It is frequently used in contexts involving gambling debts or borrowing money from friends to cover previous losses.
Examples
He owes so much money to people, when will he ever finish paying it off?
Related words
Common phrases
take money to settle a debt
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply paying a bill or a standard transaction. Using 填數 implies a sense of obligation or clearing a deficit that has been outstanding, rather than a routine payment like paying for a meal or utility bill.
Grammar color guide
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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.
