co1 to4 seoi3 jyut6蹉跎歲月蹉跎岁月
Jyutpingco1 to4 seoi3 jyut6
Yalechō tòh seui yuht
Definition
To waste one's time; to let the years slip by idly.
colloquialtimedescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly literary or formal tone despite being used in casual speech to offer advice or express regret. It implies a sense of missing out on potential or failing to achieve goals due to procrastination or lack of direction. It is often used by older generations to warn younger people about the importance of seizing the day.
Examples
Young people shouldn't waste their time.
Related words
Common phrases
don't waste your time
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb like 浪費, but it specifically refers to the passage of time and one's life, making it sound more poetic or serious than just wasting time on a specific task.
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.
