bat1 mou6 zing3 jip6不務正業不务正业
Jyutpingbat1 mou6 zing3 jip6
Yalebāt mouh jing yihp
Definition
To not have a proper or decent occupation; to neglect one's proper duty.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong judgmental tone, implying that the person is wasting their potential or time on activities that are not considered productive or respectable by societal standards. It is frequently used by parents or elders to criticize younger people who lack a stable career path or focus. The term suggests a lack of seriousness rather than just being unemployed.
Examples
He never does any work and only knows how to slack off.
Related words
Common phrases
to spend all day doing nothing productive
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply between jobs or temporarily unemployed, as it implies a negative character trait or a deliberate choice to avoid responsibility.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
