saan1 kaa1 laa1山卡啦
Jyutpingsaan1 kaa1 laa1
Yalesāan kā lā
Definition
Remote, desolate, and out-of-the-way; located in the middle of nowhere or the sticks.
colloquialplaces
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of inconvenience and isolation, often implying that the place is difficult to access by public transport. It is frequently used to complain about the lack of amenities or the long travel time required to reach civilization. While it literally references mountains and corners, it is applied broadly to any location that feels disconnected from the urban center.
Examples
You live in such a remote area, commuting to work must be a real hassle.
They moved to the middle of nowhere; it is hard to even find them now.
Related words
Common phrases
a remote, out-of-the-way place
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a place that is simply quiet or peaceful, as the term carries a negative connotation of being inconvenient or inaccessible. It is an informal descriptor and should be avoided in professional or formal writing.
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.
