dak1 go3 gat1得個桔得个桔
Jyutpingdak1 go3 gat1
Yaledāk go gāt
Definition
To end up with nothing, or to have done something completely in vain.
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Literally meaning to get only a tangerine, this idiom is used to express frustration after putting in effort without receiving any reward. It is a very common way to describe a wasted investment of time or energy. The imagery of a single piece of fruit highlights the emptiness of the outcome compared to the effort expended.
Examples
I queued for a whole hour, only to end up with nothing.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a direct verb phrase for failing, but it specifically describes the state of having nothing to show for one's actions after they have concluded. It is not used to describe the act of failing itself, but rather the disappointing result.
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.
