jau4 jau4 dong6 dong6悠悠蕩蕩悠悠荡荡
Jyutpingjau4 jau4 dong6 dong6
Yaleyàuh yàuh dohng dohng
Definition
Swaying and drifting, or hanging around and loafing.
- swaying; drifting; fluttering
- to hang around; to loaf; to wander aimlessly
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This expression captures a sense of aimless movement or gentle, rhythmic swaying. It is frequently used to describe someone who is wasting time or wandering without a clear destination, often implying a lack of productivity or purpose. When applied to objects, it emphasizes a slow, back and forth motion caused by the wind or gravity.
Examples
He is always hanging around the streets, not doing any work.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe purposeful walking or traveling, as it carries a strong connotation of being idle or aimless. It is not a synonym for simply moving from one place to another.
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.
