pok3 hung1撲空扑空
Jyutpingpok3 hung1
Yalepok hūng
Definition
To go somewhere with a specific purpose but fail to achieve it, leaving empty-handed.
colloquialdaily actionsplaces
How it's used
This term specifically describes the frustration of arriving at a destination or putting in effort only to find the target missing or the item sold out. It carries a sense of wasted time and effort that is more specific than just failing at a task. It is frequently used when visiting a shop, office, or person's home.
Examples
I went specifically to buy that watch, but it turned out to be a wasted trip.
Related words
Common phrases
to have another wasted trip
to make a special trip only to find nothing
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general failure, but it specifically requires the physical act of going somewhere or attempting to retrieve something that is no longer there. It is not used for abstract failures like failing an exam.
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.
