bat1 zung1 jung6不中用
Jyutpingbat1 zung1 jung6
Yalebāt jūng yuhng
Definition
Useless; of no practical use for a given situation.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Carries a slightly more critical or dismissive tone than simply saying 冇用. It specifically highlights a failure to function as intended or a mismatch between the object and the task at hand. It is often used to express frustration when something looks promising but fails to perform.
Examples
This machine is useless even after I bought it back.
Related words
Common phrases
pleasant to the eye but useless
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 冇用, which is a general statement of uselessness. 不中用 implies a specific failure in utility or function, often suggesting that the item is a waste of effort or money.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
