wan2 gwai2 bong1 can3搵鬼幫襯揾鬼帮衬
Jyutpingwan2 gwai2 bong1 can3
Yalewán gwái bōng chan
Definition
Describing a shop or restaurant doomed to fail because it has virtually no customers.
colloquialmoneypeople
How it's used
This expression uses the word 鬼 to mean nobody or not a single soul, emphasizing a complete lack of interest from potential customers. It carries a strong sense of cynicism or harsh judgment regarding the viability of a business. It is almost exclusively used to predict failure or criticize a lack of appeal.
Examples
If the shop is run like this, nobody will want to patronize it sooner or later.
With such poor service, who would ever want to shop there?
Related words
Common phrases
sooner or later nobody will patronize it
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal ghost stories, as the 鬼 here is purely a rhetorical device for nobody. It is highly informal and can sound quite rude or aggressive if used directly in front of the business owner.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
