m4 dak1 cit3唔得切
Jyutpingm4 dak1 cit3
Yalem̀h dāk chit
Definition
To not be able to do something in time; to run out of time.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
This expression specifically highlights a failure to meet a deadline or complete an action before a specific time window closes. It is almost always used in the context of rushing or feeling pressured by a schedule. Unlike simply saying 唔夠時間, which focuses on the lack of time itself, 唔得切 emphasizes the inability to complete the task within that constraint.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 嚟唔切, which specifically refers to not being able to arrive or appear at a location in time. While 唔得切 is broader and can apply to tasks, work, or general actions, 嚟唔切 is strictly about physical presence or attendance.
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.
