dung6 hei2 cong4 baan2戙起牀板戙起床板
Jyutpingdung6 hei2 cong4 baan2
Yaleduhng héi chòhng báan
Definition
To stay awake all night thinking about a problem or reflecting on something.
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of lying awake in bed while troubled by a difficult decision or regret. The imagery comes from the old practice of standing wooden bed boards upright to make the bed uncomfortable, forcing one to stay awake and contemplate. It carries a heavy, serious tone, implying that the person is deeply troubled or undergoing a period of intense self-reflection.
Examples
You did something wrong, go home tonight and stay up to think it through.
He stayed up all night worrying, what on earth is he thinking about?
Related words
Common phrases
staying up all night worrying
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple insomnia or just being unable to fall asleep for physical reasons. It specifically implies an active, deliberate, or unavoidable mental process of worrying or reflecting on a specific problem.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
