mun4 ho2 lo4 zoek3門可羅雀门可罗雀
Jyutpingmun4 ho2 lo4 zoek3
Yalemùhn hó lòh jeuk
Definition
Completely empty of guests or customers, such that one could net birds at the doorstep.
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How it's used
This idiom is a formal four character phrase used to describe a place that is unusually quiet or lacks visitors. While it is a literary expression, it is frequently used in modern spoken Cantonese to provide a vivid, slightly dramatic description of poor business performance. It carries a sense of desolation that goes beyond simply saying a place is empty.
Examples
The shop's business is so bad that it's completely deserted.
The economy is bad, even this place is completely empty of customers.
Related words
Common phrases
business is deserted
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common slang term, but it is a formal idiom. Using it in very casual, lighthearted contexts can sound overly serious or slightly pretentious.
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.
