faan4 so2繁瑣繁琐
Jyutpingfaan4 so2
Yalefàahn só
Definition
Tedious and convoluted; loaded with trivial and insignificant details.
neutralworkdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the feeling of being bogged down by administrative or repetitive tasks that lack real substance. It carries a slightly formal or literary weight, so it is more common in professional or descriptive contexts than in casual, lighthearted chat.
Examples
These tedious procedures are really annoying.
Do you really need to handle so many trivial chores?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe people or personality traits, as it is strictly reserved for tasks, procedures, or work processes. For a person who is overly concerned with tiny details, use 執著 or 挑剔 instead.
Grammar color guide
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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.
