jat6 ngaai4 je6 ngaai4日捱夜捱日挨夜挨
Jyutpingjat6 ngaai4 je6 ngaai4
Yaleyaht ngàaih yeh ngàaih
Definition
To toil day and night; to work tirelessly under tough conditions.
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
Emphasizes the relentless, exhausting nature of labor rather than just the duration of time spent. It is often used to express sympathy or admiration for someone who is sacrificing their health or personal life to achieve a goal or support a family. The structure implies a continuous, repetitive cycle of struggle that feels never-ending.
Examples
He worked day and night, and finally saved enough money to buy a flat.
Related words
Common phrases
working so hard day and night
working day and night for a living
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple overtime work or a busy schedule, as it carries a strong connotation of hardship and physical or mental toll. It is not suitable for professional contexts where you want to sound neutral about your workload.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
