to1 jin4拖延
Jyutpingto1 jin4
Yaletō yìhn
Definition
To procrastinate, delay, or postpone; to intentionally react with a slower speed.
neutraldaily actionswork
How it's used
Focuses on the deliberate act of stalling or dragging one's feet rather than just a simple delay caused by external factors. It often implies a sense of frustration from the speaker, suggesting that the person is intentionally avoiding a task or responsibility. While it can be used in formal contexts, it is equally common in daily life when someone is being uncooperative or lazy.
Examples
Stop procrastinating!
The report has been delayed for so long, still not ready to submit?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a simple, unavoidable delay like a train being late. It specifically implies human agency and a choice to slow things down.
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.
