daai6 fai3 zau1 zoeng1大費周章大费周章
Jyutpingdaai6 fai3 zau1 zoeng1
Yaledaaih fai jāu jēung
Definition
To go to a lot of trouble; to take great pains or face complications in getting something done.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Describes a situation where the effort exerted is disproportionate to the outcome or unnecessarily complicated. It often carries a subtle tone of frustration or criticism, implying that a simpler method could have been chosen. Use it when someone has jumped through hoops to achieve something that could have been done more efficiently.
Examples
It took so much effort to prepare this meal, you really worked hard.
Common phrases
go through all the trouble to do something
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply working hard, as it specifically highlights the complexity or indirectness of the process. It is not used for positive, productive effort, but rather for situations involving excessive, tedious, or roundabout actions.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
