zung1 baau2 si1 nong4中飽私囊中饱私囊
Jyutpingzung1 baau2 si1 nong4
Yalejūng báau sī nòhng
Definition
To pocket public funds or others' money illegally; to line one's pockets.
neutralmoneywork
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of moral condemnation and is typically used in formal contexts or when discussing serious corruption. While it describes the act of embezzlement, it specifically highlights the betrayal of trust by someone who has access to collective or public resources. It is rarely used in casual, lighthearted conversation unless one is making a very serious accusation.
Examples
As a senior executive, he actually lined his own pockets, which is truly outrageous.
Do you know who is in charge of the accounts? Be careful they might be embezzling funds.
Related words
Common phrases
suspected of lining one's pockets
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
