complain about being poor; pretend to be hard up
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesverb
to complain about being poor; to pretend to be hard up
informalOften implies the person is not actually as poor as they claim, and is used to avoid lending money, paying for something, or to gain sympathy. It is a colloquial expression.
Bié别
zài在
wǒ我
miàn面
qián前
kū哭
qióng穷
，
wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
gāng刚
fā发
le了
jiǎng奖
jīn金
。
Don't complain about being poor in front of me. I know you just got a bonus.
Tā他
yī一
dào到
yào要
qǐng请
kè客
de的
shí时
hou候
jiù就
kū哭
qióng穷
。
As soon as it's time to treat everyone to a meal, he starts pretending to be hard up.
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Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
bǎn板
zhěng整
tiān天
kāi开
zhe着
háo豪
chē车
，
què却
zài在
yuán员
gōng工
miàn面
qián前
kū哭
qióng穷
。
This boss drives a luxury car all day long but complains about being poor in front of the employees.
Bié别
gēn跟
tā他
jiè借
qián钱
，
tā他
zuì最
ài爱
kū哭
qióng穷
le了
。
Don't borrow money from him. He loves to act broke.
Tā她
zǒng总
shì是
zài在
péng朋
you友
quān圈
lǐ里
shài晒
lǚ旅
xíng行
zhào照
piàn片
，
xiàn现
zài在
què却
kū哭
qióng穷
shuō说
méi没
qián钱
jiāo交
fáng房
zū租
。
She's always posting travel photos on her social media, but now she's complaining about being poor and says she can't pay the rent.