fāyángcái

发洋财

Word · Verb phraseTraditional發洋財

make a fortune from foreigners; get a windfall

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 3 examples
1.

verb phrase

to make a fortune from foreigners (originally); to get an unexpected windfall or profit

informal

Originally 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.

Show 1 more example
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.