baa2 tok3把托
Jyutpingbaa2 tok3
Yalebá tok
Definition
To guard the entrance; completely useless; totally pointless [colloquial]
colloquialdescriptionsother
How it's used
This expression carries a strong sense of frustration or dismissal regarding the futility of an action. It is almost exclusively used in the construction 嚟把托, which functions as a rhetorical tag to emphasize that the preceding action is a waste of time or effort. It is more informal and punchy than standard ways of saying something is useless.
Examples
nei5 maai5 ni1 di1 laap6 saap3 faan1 lai4 baa2 tok3 aa4
你買呢啲垃圾返嚟把托呀？
What is the point of you buying this junk and bringing it home?
keoi5 zou6 maai4 di1 mou4 liu4 je5 zan1 hai6 lai4 baa2 tok3
佢做埋啲無聊嘢，真係嚟把托。
He does all these boring things, it is completely pointless.
Related words
Common phrases
maai5 lai4 baa2 tok3
買嚟把托
buying something for no reason
zou6 lai4 baa2 tok3
做嚟把托
doing something for no reason
Common mistake
Do not use this as a standalone adjective to describe a person or object. It must be attached to a verb phrase to describe the action itself as being pointless.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
