taat1 ce1撻車挞车
Jyutpingtaat1 ce1
Yaletāat chē
Definition
To start a car; to turn on the ignition.
colloquialtransport
How it's used
This term specifically refers to the act of engaging the ignition to get the engine running. It is essentially the mechanical equivalent of turning a key or pressing a button to wake up the vehicle. You will often hear it used when someone is struggling with a faulty battery or a cold engine.
Examples
It was so cold this morning that it took a long time to start the car.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with driving a car, which is 開車 or 揸車. 撻車 only describes the initial moment of starting the engine, not the act of operating the vehicle on the road.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
