tok3 seoi2 lung4托水龍托水龙
Jyutpingtok3 seoi2 lung4
Yaletok séui lùhng
Definition
To embezzle or pocket a client's money; to abscond with funds entrusted to one.
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
Originating from the world of traditional Chinese opera and street performance, this phrase refers to a performer who would collect donations from the audience and then disappear without finishing the show. It carries a strong sense of betrayal and dishonesty, specifically regarding financial trust. It is almost exclusively used in informal contexts to describe someone who has absconded with funds they were entrusted to hold.
Examples
He took the client's money and then embezzled it and ran away.
You can't trust him, be careful he might pocket your money.
Related words
Common phrases
to abscond with funds
Common mistake
Do not use this term for general theft or shoplifting. It specifically implies a breach of trust where money was entrusted to someone for a specific purpose, and that person subsequently disappears with it.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
