cyun1 lau4 bat1 sik1川流不息
Jyutpingcyun1 lau4 bat1 sik1
Yalechyūn làuh bāt sīk
Definition
Flowing continuously like a stream; never-ending or in a constant, bustling stream.
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How it's used
This idiom is a formal four character phrase that is often used in descriptive writing or news reports to describe heavy traffic or large crowds. While it is a literary expression, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese to add emphasis to the sheer volume of movement in a public space. It carries a sense of constant, rhythmic motion that never seems to pause.
Examples
The cars on the street are flowing endlessly, it is so noisy.
Look at the people flowing through there, how lively it is.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to describe a single person walking or a small group, but it is specifically reserved for large, continuous flows of people or vehicles. It is not used for inanimate objects that are simply stationary or for abstract concepts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
