kui2 bat1 sing4 gwan1潰不成軍溃不成军
Jyutpingkui2 bat1 sing4 gwan1
Yalekúi bāt sìhng gwān
Definition
To be utterly routed or defeated.
colloquialother
How it's used
Originally a formal idiom describing a military collapse, this term is now frequently used in casual contexts to describe a crushing defeat in games, arguments, or sports. It carries a sense of total helplessness and loss of organization, emphasizing that the losing side has completely fallen apart rather than just losing by a small margin.
Examples
Their team was completely routed in today's match.
Related words
Common phrases
to be routed completely
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a simple loss or a close game. It implies a total, humiliating collapse where the loser has no ability to fight back or maintain their position.
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.
