daa2 gaang1打更
Jyutpingdaa2 gaang1
Yaledá gāang
Definition
An ancient night watch service that patrolled streets and announced the hours by striking gongs, drums, or clappers.
datedtimeother
How it's used
Refers to a historical profession that has long since vanished from modern urban life. It is now primarily encountered in period dramas or historical accounts, often carrying a nostalgic or archaic tone. The phrase is most commonly used today in the idiom 落手打三更, which describes someone making a mistake right at the beginning of a task.
Examples
In the past, people had to patrol and strike the gong to announce the time and warn everyone about fire hazards.
Do you know how the ancient night watch system divided the night into five periods?
Related words
Common phrases
to make a mistake at the very beginning of a task
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
