sat1 naa2 daam1 gaa1蝨乸擔枷虱乸担枷
Jyutpingsat1 naa2 daam1 gaa1
Yalesāt ná dāam gā
Definition
To be punished heavily or receive severe punishment.
colloquialother
How it's used
This idiom vividly illustrates an extreme level of severity where even the smallest, most insignificant creature is not spared from heavy shackles. It is typically used to describe a situation where someone faces an overwhelmingly harsh penalty or a very strict crackdown. It carries a dramatic tone, often used as a warning or to emphasize the gravity of impending consequences.
Examples
He made a huge mistake this time, he is really going to be punished severely.
If you don't listen again, watch out for the harsh punishment!
Related words
Common phrases
truly facing severe punishment
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of insects, but it is strictly a figurative expression for punishment. It is not used to describe actual legal procedures, but rather to emphasize the intensity or unfairness of a penalty.
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.
