zau2 bou2走寶走宝
Jyutpingzau2 bou2
Yalejáu bóu
Definition
To miss out on something valuable; to miss the boat.
colloquialshoppingother
How it's used
Originating from the world of antiques and collectibles, this term describes the regret of failing to recognize the true value of an item before someone else snaps it up. It is now used broadly for any situation where a person misses a golden opportunity, a great deal, or a memorable event. The tone is often lighthearted and conversational, frequently used to tease friends about their bad timing.
Examples
This offer is such a bargain, you'll really miss out if you don't buy it.
You really missed out on something great while you were in the bathroom!
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being late or missing a bus, as those are better expressed with 遲到 or 趕唔切. It specifically implies that the thing missed had significant value or was a rare chance that will not come around again.
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).
