lau4 lei4 long5 dong6流離朗蕩流离朗荡
Jyutpinglau4 lei4 long5 dong6
Yalelàuh lèih lóhng dohng
Definition
To wander around aimlessly, or to be displaced, destitute, and homeless.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
This expression carries a strong nuance of disapproval or pity, suggesting that the person lacks direction or a stable home base. It is frequently used by older generations to describe youth who hang out on the streets instead of working or studying. While it can mean being physically displaced, it is more commonly applied to someone who is simply wasting time or drifting through life.
Examples
He wanders around aimlessly all day and has no proper job.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the literary term 流離失所, which specifically refers to being displaced by disaster or war. 流離朗蕩 is much more colloquial and usually implies a voluntary choice to drift rather than a forced situation.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
