mou4 jan4 man6 zeon1無人問津无人问津
Jyutpingmou4 jan4 man6 zeon1
Yalemòuh yàhn mahn jēun
Definition
To have nobody interested in something; to be completely neglected.
colloquialshoppingother
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite being used in everyday speech to describe goods or ideas that fail to attract attention. It is most commonly applied to items for sale, job openings, or creative works that are ignored by the public. While it sounds sophisticated, it is perfectly acceptable to use in casual conversation when you want to emphasize a complete lack of interest or demand.
Examples
This shop is in such an out-of-the-way location, no wonder nobody has been interested in it.
That item has been sitting there for a long time without anyone showing interest, why not put it on sale?
Related words
Common phrases
has been ignored for a long time
goods with no interest from buyers
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb phrase, but it functions more like an adjective describing a state of being ignored. It is not used to describe a person who is unpopular, but rather things or opportunities that are being overlooked.
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.
