to1 kwaa1拖垮
Jyutpingto1 kwaa1
Yaletō kwā
Definition
To drag down or ruin someone's health.
colloquialhealthwork
How it's used
Focuses on the gradual deterioration of health due to persistent stress, overwork, or poor lifestyle habits. It implies a causal relationship where an external factor or a specific behavior acts as the weight that eventually breaks the person's physical state. While it can apply to financial or structural collapse, its use regarding health is particularly common in daily complaints about work-life balance.
Examples
He stays up late all the time, his health will be ruined by that job soon.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a sudden illness or acute injury, as it specifically conveys a slow, progressive decline caused by ongoing strain.
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.
