make a fortune from foreigners; get a windfall
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb phrase
to make a fortune from foreigners (originally); to get an unexpected windfall or profit
informalOriginally used in the context of trade or interactions with foreigners, especially in late 19th/early 20th century China. Now often used more broadly to describe making easy money, getting a lucky break, or profiting from a situation unexpectedly. Can have a slightly ironic or informal tone.
Tā他
zǎo早
nián年
zuò做
wài外
mào贸
shēng生
yì意
,
suàn算
shì是
fā发
le了
yáng洋
cái财
。
He did foreign trade business in his early years and made a fortune.
Zhè这
cì次
gǔ股
piào票
dà大
zhǎng涨
,
hěn很
duō多
lǎo老
gǔ股
mín民
dōu都
fā发
le了
yī一
bǐ笔
yáng洋
cái财
。
With this big surge in the stock market, many old investors made an unexpected windfall.
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Bié别
xiǎng想
zhe着
fā发
yáng洋
cái财
le了
,
hái还
shì是
tā踏
tā踏
shi实
shi实
gōng工
zuò作
ba吧
。
Stop dreaming of striking it rich; just work steadily instead.