在田府干一辈子也赔不起
“you can't afford to pay for them if you work in the Tian Mansion for the rest of your lives.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
你们两个工钱加一块
“Even if you combine your wages,”
在田府 干一辈子也赔不起
“you can't afford to pay for them if you work in the Tian Mansion for the rest of your lives.”
还想走
“Still want to leave?”
“You caused a disaster that you can never pay off, so don't even dream of leaving.”
In traditional household politics (府), masters frequently used financial liability or perceived debt to bond domestic servants indefinitely and prevent departure.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
to work for an entire lifetime
Commonly used in spoken Chinese to emphasize lifelong labor, often in hyperbolic complaints or threats.
cannot afford to compensate or pay back
A potential complement structure used when financial liabilities far exceed one's ability to pay.
VOCABULARY & EXPRESSIONS
Parallel Spoken Cinema Scenes (语义近邻切片)
“But now we can't stay in Tian Mansion anymore.”
“and bring the Tian family to justice in one stroke.”
“this is the Tian family's retribution. They deserve it.”
“Of course I'll find a way to keep bringing down the Tian family”
“the future of our family rests on your shoulders.”
“By then, the Tian family will have no backing left.”