laan6 nai4爛泥烂泥
Jyutpinglaan6 nai4
Yalelaahn nàih
Definition
Mud or mire, or figuratively, a hopeless, indolent, or slovenly person.
- mud; mire; soil with very high water content
- figurativean indolent, hopeless person who has let themselves go
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Applying this term to a person carries a strong sense of disdain, implying they have completely given up on self-improvement or personal responsibility. It is often used to describe someone who is perpetually lazy or wallowing in their own misery, similar to the English expression 'a couch potato' but with a much harsher, more judgmental tone. When used as a noun for a person, it is almost exclusively used with the measure word 噼.
Examples
He plays video games at home all day, he is really a complete good-for-nothing.
Stop being a couch potato, get up and look for a job.
Related words
Common phrases
a piece of mud (a good-for-nothing person)
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply tired or having a bad day, as it implies a chronic, character-defining state of apathy rather than a temporary mood.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
