daa2 lo2 dou1 wan2 m4 dou2打鑼都搵唔到打锣都揾唔到
Jyutpingdaa2 lo2 dou1 wan2 m4 dou2
Yaledá ló dōu wán m̀h dóu
Definition
To be extremely rare, precious, or impossible to find even if one searches everywhere.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This expression emphasizes the extreme scarcity or unavailability of something by invoking the image of searching with a gong to draw attention. It is typically used when someone has exhausted all possible avenues to locate an item or a person. The phrase carries a sense of finality and frustration regarding the impossibility of the task.
Examples
You can't find this discontinued watch anywhere even if you search high and low.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase for simple, everyday items that are merely misplaced, as it implies a genuine rarity or a total lack of supply. It is reserved for things that are truly hard to come by, such as a rare collectible or a perfect opportunity.
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.
