jat1 cau4 mok6 zin2一籌莫展一筹莫展
Jyutpingjat1 cau4 mok6 zin2
Yaleyāt chàuh mohk jín
Definition
At one's wits' end; unable to find any way out or come up with any plan.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
Carries a formal tone despite being used in daily speech to describe a state of total helplessness. It implies a sense of being blocked or having exhausted all possible strategies, rather than just being confused. It is often used in professional or serious contexts to signal that a situation has reached a stalemate.
Examples
Facing this difficult problem, everyone is at their wit's end.
Related words
Common phrases
completely at a loss
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple confusion or minor forgetfulness, as it specifically refers to a lack of solutions for a complex problem. It is a four character idiom, so it sounds slightly more literary than using plain spoken phrases like 冇晒計.
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.
