sap6 waak6 dou1 mei6 jau5 jat1 pit3十畫都未有一撇十画都未有一撇
Jyutpingsap6 waak6 dou1 mei6 jau5 jat1 pit3
Yalesahp waahk dōu meih yáuh yāt pit
Definition
Far from completion; still in the very early stages with no progress made yet.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe a situation where a plan or project has not even begun to take shape. It implies that the initial steps have not been taken, making the final goal feel very distant. It is frequently used to express skepticism or frustration regarding someone's vague promises or slow progress.
Examples
The matter hasn't even started yet, what should we do?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 冇影, which implies something is completely missing or non-existent, whereas this idiom specifically highlights the lack of progress on a task that is supposedly in the works.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
