pan4 pan4 pok3 pok3頻頻撲撲频频扑扑
Jyutpingpan4 pan4 pok3 pok3
Yalepàhn pàhn pok pok
Definition
Busy and on the go; running around in circles.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This reduplicated phrase captures the physical sensation of being constantly on the move for errands or work. It implies a sense of aimless or exhausting busyness rather than just being productive. People often use it to describe the feeling of being overwhelmed by external demands that keep them from staying in one place.
Examples
He has been running around lately, seems like he is very busy.
Related words
Common phrases
living a life of constant rushing around
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 忙碌, which is a more formal and general term for being busy. 頻頻撲撲 specifically emphasizes the physical act of moving from place to place, whereas 忙碌 can apply to someone sitting at a desk all day.
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.
