lit6趔
Jyutpinglit6
Yaleliht
Definition
To stumble, be awkward, or fail to progress smoothly.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This word is almost exclusively used in the reduplicated form 趔趔趄趄 to describe a gait that is unsteady or a situation that is failing to move forward smoothly. It captures a sense of physical imbalance or metaphorical stagnation where progress is jerky and unreliable. You will rarely hear it used as a single character in modern speech.
Examples
He is walking with a stumble, looking like he is about to fall.
The matter is progressing awkwardly and unsteadily, when will it finally be sorted out?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 跌, which means to fall down completely. 趔 implies the struggle to maintain balance or momentum before a potential fall or failure occurs.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
