mou4 cung4無從无从
Jyutpingmou4 cung4
Yalemòuh chùhng
Definition
Not knowing where to begin; having no way or avenue to start.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Carries a formal or slightly literary tone despite being used in spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively paired with verbs of action or entry, such as 入手 or 考究, to describe a state of being overwhelmed by complexity.
Examples
The matter is too complicated, I really don't know where to start.
Facing so many choices, do you feel like you don't know where to begin?
Related words
Common phrases
don't know how to start
impossible to verify
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean simply having nothing to do or lacking resources, as it specifically refers to the inability to find a starting point for a task.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
