zaat3 paau3紮炮
Jyutpingzaat3 paau3
Yalejaat paau
Definition
To tighten one's belt, cut down on spending, or go hungry due to financial hardship.
- slangto cut down on spending due to financial difficulty
- slangto tighten one's belt and go hungry
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This expression vividly captures the feeling of extreme frugality, often implying a state of being broke or having to survive on very little. It is primarily used when someone is forced to cut back on essential expenses like food due to financial hardship. While it sounds slightly old fashioned, it remains a common way to describe a period of financial struggle.
Examples
Money is tight lately, I have to tighten my belt to get by.
Related words
Common phrases
to live frugally due to financial hardship
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple saving or budgeting for a luxury item, as it specifically implies a state of necessity or poverty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
