mo2 mun4 deng1摸門釘摸门钉
Jyutpingmo2 mun4 deng1
Yalemó mùhn dēng
Definition
To find nobody at home when paying a visit to someone; to be locked out or missed.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
This expression vividly captures the frustration of arriving at a destination only to find the door locked or the person absent. It implies a wasted trip and is often used when the visitor had specific expectations of meeting someone. The imagery of touching the door nails refers to the old-fashioned practice of knocking on heavy, studded doors that remained firmly shut.
Examples
If you go to his place today, will you end up finding no one home?
Related words
Common phrases
arrived only to find no one home
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being rejected or ignored. It specifically refers to the physical act of arriving at a location and finding the person you intended to see is not there.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
