zap1 dou1 lou1 maai4汁都撈埋汁都捞埋
Jyutpingzap1 dou1 lou1 maai4
Yalejāp dōu lōu màaih
Definition
To use up everything that can be used, leaving absolutely nothing behind.
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How it's used
Originating from the habit of mixing rice with the leftover sauce from a dish, this phrase carries a slightly cynical or intense tone. It describes someone who is extremely thorough, often to the point of being stingy or overly calculating. It is rarely used in a positive sense, as it implies a lack of restraint in taking or using resources.
Examples
He even squeezed every single benefit out of the job.
Do you really have to be so extreme and scrape together every last cent?
Common phrases
to squeeze every last bit out of something
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply eating leftovers. The phrase specifically emphasizes the act of extracting maximum value or benefit from a situation, often implying that the person is being greedy or excessively meticulous.
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.
