daan2 gaa1 po4 mo2 hin2蛋家婆摸蜆蛋家婆摸蚬
Jyutpingdaan2 gaa1 po4 mo2 hin2
Yaledáan gā pòh mó hín
Definition
Totally hopeless; to have absolutely no hope for something.
colloquialother
How it's used
This idiom draws on the image of a boat dweller feeling around in the mud for clams, which is a tedious and often fruitless task. It carries a strong sense of futility and resignation, implying that the situation is beyond repair. It is a vivid, slightly old fashioned expression that adds a touch of local color to a conversation about failed efforts.
Examples
This business deal is totally hopeless, there is no saving it.
Related words
Common phrases
simply a lost cause
Common mistake
Do not use this in formal or professional settings, as it is highly colloquial and relies on a specific cultural metaphor that might sound strange or overly informal to some listeners.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
