lau4 naan4留難留难
Jyutpinglau4 naan4
Yalelàuh nàahn
Definition
To deliberately make things difficult for someone; to give someone a hard time.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Focuses on the intentional act of creating obstacles for someone, often out of spite or a desire to exert power. It implies a deliberate effort to make a task or situation harder than it needs to be, rather than just being unhelpful. It is commonly used in workplace or interpersonal conflicts to describe someone who is being obstructive.
Examples
He always makes things difficult for his subordinates, causing everyone to want to resign.
Why do you have to make things difficult for the new colleague?
Related words
Common phrases
deliberately make things difficult
make things difficult at every turn
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being unhelpful or lazy. It specifically requires an active, intentional effort to hinder someone else, whereas being unhelpful might just be a lack of effort.
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.
