bat1 sing4 hei3 hau6不成氣候不成气候
Jyutpingbat1 sing4 hei3 hau6
Yalebāt sìhng hei hauh
Definition
To not amount to anything; to be unlikely to succeed or become a major force; to have yet to master a skill.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who lacks the necessary experience or skill to be taken seriously in a specific field. It often implies that the person is still in a developmental stage and has not reached a level of professional competence. While it can be used neutrally to describe a beginner, it frequently carries a slightly dismissive or critical tone when used to evaluate someone's progress.
Examples
He has only been learning for a few days, he is not yet up to scratch.
Related words
Common phrases
unlikely to ever amount to much
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply lazy or unmotivated. It specifically refers to a lack of professional maturity or technical mastery, rather than a lack of effort or character.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
