ding1 dang2丁等
Jyutpingding1 dang2
Yaledīng dáng
Definition
The fourth or lowest grade; D grade.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This term is a highly colloquial way to describe a very small quantity or degree, often carrying a sense of insignificance. It is frequently used to emphasize that something is negligible or barely worth mentioning. You will mostly hear it in casual speech when someone wants to sound slightly more expressive than just saying 少少.
Examples
Wait a moment, I still have a tiny bit of work left to finish.
He is very petty and holds a grudge over even the smallest things.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 丁點, which is a more common and standard way to express a tiny amount. Using 丁等 might sound slightly idiosyncratic or regional depending on the speaker's background.
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.
