dam1 dam1 haa5泵泵吓
Jyutpingdam1 dam1 haa5
Yaledām dām háh
Definition
To procrastinate, dawdle, or put off doing something.
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
This reduplicated verb phrase captures the feeling of dragging one's feet or moving sluggishly through a task. It implies a lack of urgency or a deliberate delay rather than just being busy. It is frequently used in workplace or school contexts when someone is failing to meet expectations due to inefficiency.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the English loanword 泵, which means to pump. The reduplication and the addition of 吓 specifically shift the meaning to stalling or delaying.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
