seoi2 se4 ceon1 gam3 coeng4水蛇春咁長水蛇春咁长
Jyutpingseoi2 se4 ceon1 gam3 coeng4
Yaleséui sèh chēun gam chèuhng
Definition
Extremely long and tedious, typically used to describe lists, sentences, queues, or names.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This vivid idiom relies on the cultural imagery of a string of water snake eggs, which are connected in a long, continuous line. It is almost exclusively used to describe things that are tedious or annoyingly long, such as a never ending list of chores, a long-winded speech, or a queue. Using it adds a touch of frustration or humorous exaggeration to your description.
Examples
His report is ridiculously long, my eyes are getting blurry from reading it.
The queue is incredibly long, why don't we just eat somewhere else?
Related words
Common phrases
an extremely long list
a ridiculously long queue
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe physical objects that are meant to be long, like a long bridge or a long rope, as it carries a negative connotation of being excessively or unnecessarily long.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
