gou3 ceoi1告吹
Jyutpinggou3 ceoi1
Yalegou chēui
Definition
To fizzle out, fall through, or be cancelled.
neutralworkother
How it's used
Used primarily for formal arrangements, business deals, or significant personal plans that fail to materialize. It carries a sense of disappointment or finality, implying that the effort put into the process was ultimately wasted. It is less common to use this for minor, everyday tasks like deciding not to go for coffee.
Examples
Their wedding plans eventually fell through.
Why did the cooperation project fizzle out?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this for simple tasks that were never started; it specifically implies that a process was underway or an agreement was in place before it collapsed.
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.
