lat1 to1甩拖
Jyutpinglat1 to1
Yalelāt tō
Definition
To fail to keep a promise or let someone down; to break up a romantic relationship.
- to fail to keep a promise; to stand someone up; to let someone down
- slangto break up with a romantic partner
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Originally referring to a tow cable snapping, this term has evolved into a versatile metaphor for failing to show up or failing to deliver on a commitment. It carries a slightly informal tone, often implying that the person who failed to appear or perform was expected to be reliable. When used in the context of relationships, it specifically denotes the act of breaking up, functioning as a common alternative to 分手.
Examples
Please don't break your promise this time, everyone is waiting for you.
They dated for a few years, but in the end, they broke up.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 拍拖, which means to date. While they share the same characters, 甩拖 implies a negative outcome or a failure, whereas 拍拖 is the act of being in a relationship.
Grammar color guide
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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.
