Dictionary

pok kai en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈpɔk̚ kai/ (Singapore)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Cantonese 仆街 (puk1 gaai1, “fall onto street, drop dead, go to hell, [Singapore, Malaysia] to have no money)”), from 仆 (puk1, “fall”) + 街 (gaai1, “street”).

Meanings

1. (Manglish, Singlish, not-comparable, slang) Having no money; broke; bankrupt.
   • After buying my girlfriend her branded bag, I’m officially pok kai, please don’t ask me to go shopping or clubbing with you. 2015, “Pok Gai”, in Singaporelang - What the Singlish?, archived from the original on 03 Mar 2019:
   • Out shopping, child to parent. “Daddy I want this, daddy I want that.” Daddy, “Daddy pok kai awreddy^([sic]), ask your mummy.” 2003, Sylvia Toh Paik Choo, The complete Eh, Goondu!:
   • Today I went to Swensen's for dinner, even when I'm totally pok-gai. 2010 March 12, “No Words”, in Pearl, retrieved 05 Nov 2015:

Forms