nap1 dat6 bat1 ping4凹凸不平
Jyutpingnap1 dat6 bat1 ping4
Yalenāp daht bāt pìhng
Definition
Uneven, bumpy, or rough; having many raised and sunken parts.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on physical surfaces that have irregular protrusions and depressions, making them difficult to walk on or work with. While it is a four character idiom, it is used quite naturally in spoken Cantonese to describe anything from rough terrain to poorly finished construction work.
Examples
The road is uneven, be careful when walking.
The wall surface is uneven, how can we put up wallpaper?
Related words
Common phrases
the road surface is uneven
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the simple adjective 唔平, which just means not flat. 凹凸不平 implies a more extreme, rugged, or damaged state rather than just a slight tilt or slope.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
