cat1 din1 baat3 dou2七顛八倒七颠八倒
Jyutpingcat1 din1 baat3 dou2
Yalechāt dīn baat dóu
Definition
In a complete mess; upside down; chaotic and confused.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom describes a state of extreme disorder or confusion, often implying that things are physically scattered or logically jumbled. It is frequently used to describe a messy room or a disorganized situation where items have been moved from their proper places. While it sounds slightly dramatic, it is perfectly acceptable in casual conversation to emphasize how chaotic a space has become.
Examples
The house was left in a complete mess by them.
Related words
Common phrases
to mess everything up
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the similar sounding idiom 七上八落, which refers to feeling nervous or anxious rather than physical messiness.
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.
