dak1 haan4得閒得闲
Jyutpingdak1 haan4
Yaledāk hàahn
Definition
To have free time; to be free and not busy.
Example
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Often used as a polite social filler, saying 得閒飲茶 is a classic way to end a conversation, similar to saying let's catch up sometime. It does not always function as a literal invitation to have tea, but rather as a friendly gesture to signal the end of a chat.
Examples
Are you free tomorrow?
I really like watching movies when I'm free.
Related words
Common phrases
let's have tea sometime
let's talk again when free
Common mistake
Beginners often confuse 得閒 with 冇嘢做, but 冇嘢做 specifically means having nothing to do or being bored, whereas 得閒 simply means having available time regardless of whether you are busy with other things.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
