zin3 dai2墊底垫底

Jyutpingzin3 dai2

Yalejin dái

Definition

To place something at the bottom; also used for a deductible, or to refer to those at the bottom of a ranking.

to put something at the bottom
to be at the bottom of a ranking, such as students with poor grades
technicalan insurance deductible

colloquialschoolmoney

How it's used

Beyond insurance and academic rankings, this term frequently describes placing a layer of something at the bottom of a container, such as putting paper towels at the bottom of a food box to absorb grease. It carries a slightly informal tone when used to describe people, so avoid using it in formal academic or professional settings to describe someone's performance directly to their face.

Examples

keoi5佢ci3次ci3次haau2考si5試dou1都zin3墊dai2底，zan1真hai6係hou2好daam1擔sam1心。

He is at the bottom of the class in every exam, I am really worried.

maai5買bou2保him2險go2嗰zan6陣，nei5你gaan2揀zo2咗gei2幾do1多zin3墊dai2底bei3費aa1呀？

How much deductible did you choose when you bought the insurance?

Common phrases

zin3墊dai2底bei3費

deductible (insurance)

haau2考si5試zin3墊dai2底

to rank last in an exam

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply being at the bottom of a pile, as it implies a functional role or a relative ranking rather than just physical position.