jat1 sou3 ji4 hung1一掃而空一扫而空
Jyutpingjat1 sou3 ji4 hung1
Yaleyāt sou yìh hūng
Definition
To make a clean sweep; to completely eliminate or get rid of everything.
colloquialdaily actionsshopping
How it's used
Often used to describe the rapid disappearance of food at a buffet or items during a clearance sale. It carries a sense of speed and total thoroughness, implying that nothing remains behind. While it can apply to abstract concepts like worries or stress, it is most frequently encountered in contexts involving physical consumption or shopping.
Examples
They made a clean sweep and ate everything on the table.
With this sale, were all the goods swept up?
Related words
Common phrases
shelves were cleared out
worries were completely wiped away
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe cleaning a room, as it specifically implies consumption or removal of items rather than the act of tidying up. For cleaning, use 執乾淨 instead.
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.
