dung6 hei2 cong4 baan2㢥起床板
Jyutpingdung6 hei2 cong4 baan2
Yaledungh héi chòngh bán
Definition
To burn the midnight oil, to not sleep the whole night to work [colloquial]
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
This expression vividly describes the act of staying up late by referencing the physical act of burning the wooden bed frame for light or warmth. It is a highly idiomatic and somewhat dramatic way to describe pulling an all-nighter. While it implies hard work, it can also be used humorously to describe someone who is just staying up late for leisure or gaming.
Examples
keoi5 wai6 zo2 gon2 fan2 bou3 gou3 seng4 maan5 dung6 hei2 cong4 baan2
佢為咗趕份報告，成晚㢥起床板。
He stayed up all night to finish the report.
nei5 ting1 jat6 zung6 jiu3 faan1 gung1 gam1 maan5 m4 hou2 dung6 hei2 cong4 baan2 laa1
你聽日仲要返工，今晚唔好㢥起床板啦。
You have work tomorrow, don't burn the midnight oil tonight.
Related words
Common phrases
seng4 maan5 dung6 hei2 cong4 baan2
成晚㢥起床板
to pull an all-nighter
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard verb like 熬夜, but it is a much more colorful and specific idiom. It is not used in formal writing or professional settings, as it carries a strong colloquial flavor.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- 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.
