tek3 saai3 goek3踢晒腳踢晒脚
Jyutpingtek3 saai3 goek3
Yaletek saai geuk
Definition
To be extremely busy with no time to rest.
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
This expression vividly captures the feeling of being overwhelmed by tasks, suggesting a frantic pace where you are constantly moving but barely keeping up. It is strictly colloquial and carries a sense of urgency or stress, often used to explain why someone cannot take on additional work or requests. While it originates from the chaotic movement of horses in a race, it is now applied to any situation involving heavy workloads or tight deadlines.
Examples
The company has been so busy lately that I don't even have time to eat.
How much more do you have left to finish? We are swamped right now!
Common phrases
to be extremely busy and flustered
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe being busy in a calm or organized way. It specifically implies a state of chaotic, breathless activity where you are struggling to manage everything at once.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.



