Definition
横财 refers to sudden unexpected wealth, often with the implication that it is undeserved or even ill-gotten. It appears in phrases like 发横财 ('to make a windfall'), where the emphasis is on fortune that falls outside normal, honest earnings. Unlike the neutral 'windfall', 横财 carries a distinctly negative or morally questionable connotation.
n.
windfallunexpected fortuneill-gotten gains (often implied)
Examples
- 横财，。Tā zhè cì tóujī zhuàn le yí dà bǐ héng cái, dàn dàjiā dōu juéde bú tài guāngcǎi.He made a big windfall from this speculation, but everyone thought it was not very honorable.
- ，横财。Fācái yào kào nǔlì, kào héng cái búshì chángjiǔ zhī jì.Getting rich should rely on effort; relying on a windfall is not a long-term plan.
- 横财，。Tā mǎi le cǎipiào zhòng le héng cái, yíxiàzi gǎibiàn le shēnghuó.He bought a lottery ticket and won a windfall, which changed his life all at once.
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