maa5 bat1 ting4 tai4馬不停蹄马不停蹄
Jyutpingmaa5 bat1 ting4 tai4
Yalemáh bāt tìhng tàih
Definition
To go to a place or multiple places non-stop; without pause or rest.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
Focuses on the physical act of traveling or moving between multiple locations in a tight schedule. It implies a sense of urgency or a packed itinerary rather than just working hard at a single desk. It is frequently paired with the particle 噉 or 咁 to describe the manner of the action.
Examples
He has been rushing from place to place for meetings lately without a break.
You've been working non-stop all day, aren't you tired?
Common phrases
rushing non-stop
working non-stop
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply busy at one location, such as sitting at a desk all day. It specifically carries the nuance of movement or travel between different points.
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.
