laang5 baan2 dang3冷板凳
Jyutpinglaang5 baan2 dang3
Yaleláahng báan dang
Definition
An undesirable position, role, or situation where one is sidelined, ignored, or has nothing to do.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
This expression carries a strong sense of being neglected or ignored by superiors. It is frequently used in professional or organizational contexts to describe someone who is excluded from decision-making processes or given no meaningful tasks. The imagery evokes the discomfort of sitting on a hard, cold wooden bench, emphasizing the lack of warmth or opportunity in the role.
Examples
He has been sidelined ever since he joined the company.
Common phrases
to be sidelined
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe physical coldness or actual furniture. It is strictly a metaphorical term for professional or social marginalization.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).



