jat1 wok6 zuk1一鑊粥一镬粥
Jyutpingjat1 wok6 zuk1
Yaleyāt wohk jūk
Definition
A complete mess or disaster; a botched situation.
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How it's used
Literally meaning a pot of congee, this idiom describes a situation that has become chaotic, disorganized, or completely ruined. It is frequently used with the verb 搞, as in 搞到一鑊粥, to emphasize that someone is responsible for the resulting disaster. The imagery suggests a thick, indistinguishable mush where individual components are no longer clear, reflecting a state of total confusion.
Examples
He made a total mess of the whole thing.
Why did you end up making such a mess of it?
Related words
Common phrases
to make a complete mess of something
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical messes like spilled liquids or cluttered rooms, as it specifically refers to abstract situations, plans, or projects that have gone wrong.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
