naa4 sau2 m4 sing4 sai3嗱手唔成勢嗱手唔成势
Jyutpingnaa4 sau2 m4 sing4 sai3
Yalenàh sáu m̀h sìhng sai
Definition
To be caught unprepared; to be unable to cope with a situation or in a state of disarray.
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
This idiom describes a state of being completely overwhelmed or disorganized when faced with a task or unexpected situation. It carries a strong sense of panic and lack of control, often implying that the person has lost their composure. It is frequently used to describe someone who is scrambling to fix a mistake or handle a sudden crisis.
Examples
He is in a total mess and doesn't know how to wrap things up.
Don't be so flustered and disorganized with your work, just take it slow.
Related words
Common phrases
to end up in a chaotic mess
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with being simply busy or tired, but it specifically implies a lack of competence or preparation in the moment. It is not used to describe a long term state of being busy, but rather a sudden, chaotic reaction to a specific event.
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.
