wan2 loeng5 caan1搵兩餐揾两餐
Jyutpingwan2 loeng5 caan1
Yalewán léuhng chāan
Definition
To make a living; to earn enough money for meals.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
This phrase literally refers to earning enough for two meals, but it is used figuratively to describe the basic struggle of earning a living. It carries a humble, modest tone, often used by people to downplay their financial status or emphasize the necessity of their hard work. It is rarely used to describe high-earning professions or wealth.
Examples
He works so hard every day just to make a living.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is wealthy or successful in their career, as it specifically implies a focus on basic survival or subsistence. It is not a formal term and should be avoided in professional or written contexts.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
