daa2 ngaa4 gaau3打牙骹
Jyutpingdaa2 ngaa4 gaau3
Yaledá ngàh gaau
Definition
To chat or gossip.
colloquialcommunicationdaily actions
How it's used
This idiom vividly captures the image of jaws moving back and forth during idle conversation. It is almost exclusively used for casual, aimless, or social talk rather than serious business discussions. It carries a slightly playful or dismissive tone, often implying that the people involved are wasting time or procrastinating.
Examples
Let's go to the tea restaurant and have a chat.
He chats with people all the time, doesn't he have any work to do?
Related words
Common phrases
to chat with someone
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe formal or professional meetings, as it specifically refers to informal, social chatter. Using it in a serious context will sound unprofessional or sarcastic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
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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.
