jau5 hei3 mou5 deng6 tau2有氣冇訂透有气冇订透
Jyutpingjau5 hei3 mou5 deng6 tau2
Yaleyáuh hei móuh dehng táu
Definition
Extremely busy, with barely any time to breathe.
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
Literally describing a state where one has breath but no place to rest it, this idiom captures the feeling of being overwhelmed by work or life demands. It is specifically used to describe a frantic, non-stop schedule rather than just being generally occupied. The phrase implies a lack of breathing room, making it a vivid way to express extreme pressure.
Examples
I have been so busy lately that I cannot even catch my breath, it is exhausting.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake 訂 for 定, but the correct character in this specific idiom is 訂, which historically refers to a place or space. Using the wrong character is a common error even among native speakers, so be careful with the written form.
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.
