bat1 ho2 hoi1 gaau1不可開交不可开交
Jyutpingbat1 ho2 hoi1 gaau1
Yalebāt hó hōi gāau
Definition
Irreparably tangled up in or unable to escape from a busy, chaotic, or unfavorable situation.
colloquialdescriptionswork
How it's used
Focuses on the intensity of a situation, usually implying a state of being overwhelmed or stuck in a cycle of activity. It is almost exclusively used with the particle 咁 or the complement 到 to describe the extreme degree of the situation. While it can apply to various negative states, it is most frequently paired with being busy.
Examples
He has been so incredibly busy lately that he doesn't even have time to eat.
Related words
Common phrases
busy to the point of being unable to get away
in an endless, uncontrollable argument
Common mistake
Learners often mistake it for a verb meaning to stop something, but it is an adjective phrase describing the state of being unable to extract oneself from a situation. It cannot be used as a standalone verb to mean to quit or leave.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
