paak3 wu1 jing1拍烏蠅拍乌蝇
Jyutpingpaak3 wu1 jing1
Yalepaak wū yīng
Definition
To have very little business, leaving staff with nothing to do but swat flies.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
Visualizing the boredom of shop staff with nothing to do, this phrase captures the exact moment a business is completely devoid of customers. It is almost exclusively used to describe retail or service environments that are suffering from a lack of foot traffic. While it sounds humorous, it carries a serious undertone of financial struggle for the business owner.
Examples
The economy is bad lately, the shop has no customers every day.
Look at that restaurant, it's been dead all night, how can they stay in business?
Related words
Common phrases
swatting flies every single day
swatting flies all day long
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a quiet library or a peaceful park, as it specifically implies a failed or struggling commercial venture where customers are expected but absent.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
