haa6 gung1 fu1下功夫
Jyutpinghaa6 gung1 fu1
Yalehah gūng fū
Definition
To put in time, effort, and energy into doing something.
neutralworkdaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the deliberate investment of time and mental energy to achieve a specific result. It often implies a long term commitment rather than a quick fix. You will frequently hear it used when discussing skill acquisition or complex projects.
Examples
If you want to learn Cantonese well, you must put in the effort to practice.
You put so much effort into your report, it will definitely be a success.
Related words
Common phrases
to put in sufficient effort
to put in effort (using the colloquial verb 落)
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply working hard or being busy. It specifically implies a focused, strategic effort towards mastering a skill or perfecting a task.
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.
