jim2 daap3罨耷
Jyutpingjim2 daap3
Yaleyím daap
Definition
Shabby, grotty, and dirty, especially of a place.
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How it's used
This term captures a specific sense of neglect that goes beyond just being messy. It often implies a combination of poor ventilation, lack of cleanliness, and a general feeling of decay or dampness. It is frequently applied to old, cramped, or poorly maintained indoor spaces like storage rooms or run-down shops.
Examples
The room is so grotty, how can you keep living in it?
That shop is really shabby, there is even a musty smell inside.
Related words
Common phrases
shabby environment
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 邋遢, which refers specifically to being physically dirty or untidy. 罨耷 carries a stronger nuance of being stifling, unventilated, or having a stale, musty atmosphere.
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.
