zo2 sau2 lei4 jau6 sau2 heoi3左手嚟，右手去
Jyutpingzo2 sau2 lei4 jau6 sau2 heoi3
Yalejó sáu lèih yauh sáu heui
Definition
To spend or lose money as soon as it is earned; to have money go out as fast as it comes in.
colloquialmoney
How it's used
This idiom vividly captures the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck without any financial planning. It is specifically used to describe people who spend their income immediately upon receiving it, often implying a lack of discipline or foresight. The phrase is highly idiomatic and functions as a descriptive comment on someone's spending habits rather than a technical financial term.
Examples
His salary goes out as soon as it comes in, he never has any savings.
Related words
Common phrases
never have any savings
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.
