laau4 m4 dim6撈唔掂捞唔掂
Jyutpinglaau4 m4 dim6
Yalelàauh m̀h dihm
Definition
To not do well in one's career; struggling to make a living or unable to thrive.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the struggle to make a living or sustain a career path. It carries a slightly sympathetic yet blunt tone, often used when someone has to abandon a project or return home after failing to succeed elsewhere. It is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal professional settings.
Examples
He wasn't doing well over there, so he had to come back and find another job.
Since your business isn't going well, why not consider changing careers?
Common phrases
to return after failing to make a living elsewhere
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with just being busy or working hard, as 撈 refers to the act of making a living or engaging in a trade, and 唔掂 specifically indicates a lack of success or progress.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
