ce2 daai6 laam6扯大纜扯大缆
Jyutpingce2 daai6 laam6
Yaleché daaih laahm
Definition
To play tug-of-war.
colloquialsportsdaily actions
How it's used
This term is used both for the literal sport of tug-of-war and metaphorically to describe a situation where two parties are in a persistent, exhausting struggle for control or advantage. It captures the physical tension of the game, making it a vivid way to describe power struggles in office politics or personal relationships. Unlike the formal term 拔河, 扯大纜 is the standard, evocative way to refer to the activity in daily life.
Examples
When we were kids, we played tug-of-war all the time.
Are you guys strong enough to play tug-of-war?
Related words
Common phrases
to play tug-of-war
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
