daan1 daa2 duk6 dau3單打獨鬥单打独斗
Jyutpingdaan1 daa2 duk6 dau3
Yaledāan dá duhk dau
Definition
To duel or fight one-on-one to determine a winner.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Often used metaphorically to describe working or tackling a difficult task entirely by oneself without any support or teamwork. It carries a sense of being isolated or taking on an overwhelming challenge solo. While it can refer to physical combat, it is far more frequently applied to professional or personal situations where someone refuses to collaborate.
Examples
Don't think about fighting this alone, find someone to help you.
Are those two wanting to duel one-on-one to decide the winner?
Related words
Common phrases
don't fight alone
used to working alone
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple game or a friendly match, as it implies a serious, often intense, or high-stakes confrontation. It is not a neutral term for a one-on-one activity.
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.
