jiu1 zaam2腰斬腰斩
Jyutpingjiu1 zaam2
Yaleyīu jáam
Definition
To cut a person in half at the waist as a form of execution, or to cancel a project mid-way.
- historicalto execute someone by cutting them in half at the waist
- figurativeto abruptly cancel or stop a planned project or event midway
colloquialworkother
How it's used
Beyond its historical literal meaning of execution, this term is now standard in news and business to describe projects, sports matches, or TV series that are abruptly terminated before completion. It carries a sense of suddenness and incompleteness, implying that the original plan was intended to continue much longer. It is frequently used in headlines to report on cancelled events or truncated contracts.
Examples
The show's ratings were so poor that the TV station cancelled it halfway.
Why did you suddenly cut the project short for no reason?
Related words
Common phrases
to cancel a show mid-season
to cut a project short
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple delay or a postponement, as it specifically implies a permanent and premature end to an ongoing process.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
