loeng5 tau4 m4 dou3 ngon6兩頭唔到岸两头唔到岸
Jyutpingloeng5 tau4 m4 dou3 ngon6
Yaleléuhng tàuh m̀h dou ngohn
Definition
To end up with nothing by failing to choose between two mutually exclusive options; to be stuck in the middle.
colloquialother
How it's used
This idiom describes the frustration of failing to commit to a single path, resulting in a total loss of potential gains. It is often used as a warning to someone who is trying to hedge their bets too much or who is caught between two conflicting social or professional obligations. The imagery of being in the middle of a river without reaching either bank perfectly captures the feeling of being stranded by indecision.
Examples
You are stuck in the middle, and in the end, you will lose everything.
Don't be indecisive, just pick one path.
Related words
Common phrases
to end up in a situation where one fails on both sides
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for simply being confused, but it specifically implies a failure of strategy or choice that leads to a negative outcome. It is not used for neutral situations where one is merely undecided.
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.
