hak1 bat1 jung4 wun6刻不容緩刻不容缓
Jyutpinghak1 bat1 jung4 wun6
Yalehāk bāt yùhng wuhn
Definition
Demanding immediate attention; of the utmost concern, requiring action without any delay.
writtenother
How it's used
This idiom carries a formal and serious tone, often appearing in news reports or official announcements regarding crises. While it is perfectly understandable in daily conversation, using it in casual settings might sound overly dramatic or like you are reading from a newspaper. It is best reserved for situations where the stakes are genuinely high and immediate action is required.
Examples
This matter is extremely urgent, you need to handle it right away.
Related words
Common phrases
the situation is extremely urgent
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a verb phrase, but it functions as an adjective describing a situation or task. Avoid using it to describe your own personal feelings of being in a rush, as it specifically refers to the objective urgency of a situation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
