gu3 zi2 deoi1故紙堆故纸堆
Jyutpinggu3 zi2 deoi1
Yalegu jí dēui
Definition
A pile of old books and paper materials.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers to a collection of dusty, outdated, or historical documents that are often viewed as disconnected from modern reality. The phrase carries a slightly critical or self-deprecating tone, implying that someone is overly focused on the past or academic trivia rather than current practical affairs. It is frequently used in the idiom 埋首故紙堆 to describe someone who is obsessed with research or reading at the expense of social interaction.
Measure word
deoi1堆dēuiExamples
He buries himself in old books all day and ignores what is happening outside.
How much longer do you need to search through those old piles of paper to find the answer?
Related words
Common phrases
to bury oneself in old books and papers
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal pile of trash or recycling, but it specifically implies historical or scholarly materials. It is not used to describe a messy desk or general clutter.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
