mo4 laan6 zek6磨爛蓆磨烂席
Jyutpingmo4 laan6 zek6
Yalemòh laahn jehk
Definition
To overstay one's welcome by sitting in one place for a very long time; to linger.
- to sit in one place for a very long time; to linger or overstay
- slangto have prolonged sexual intercourse
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Literally meaning to wear out a mat through friction, this idiom vividly describes someone who overstays their welcome or refuses to move from a seat. It is often used in social settings like restaurants or cafes when someone lingers long after the meal is finished. The tone is usually impatient or slightly annoyed.
Examples
How much longer are you going to keep sitting there?
They kept sitting there after the meal and wouldn't pay the bill to leave.
Common phrases
lingering in a seat
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply sitting down for a long time in their own home, as it implies a social context where the person is expected to leave but chooses not to.
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.
