caak3 paang4 zou6 gwo3拆棚做過拆棚做过
Jyutpingcaak3 paang4 zou6 gwo3
Yalechaak pàahng jouh gwo
Definition
To start over from scratch, dismantle everything and rebuild, or begin again from zero.
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
Originating from the construction industry, this phrase refers to dismantling the bamboo scaffolding around a building. It carries a sense of total abandonment of a previous effort rather than just making minor adjustments. It is often used in professional or project management contexts to signal a complete reset.
Examples
This plan isn't working, let's just scrap it and start over.
Related words
Common phrases
to completely scrap and start over
Common mistake
Do not use this for minor revisions or small fixes. It implies a complete failure or a decision to discard all previous work, so it can sound quite dramatic or frustrated depending on the tone.
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.
