toi5 maan6怠慢

Jyutpingtoi5 maan6

Yaletóih maahn

動詞Rare

Definition

To slack off, neglect one's duties, or treat guests with coldness.

to slack off; to neglect one's duties; to not do one's best
to slight guests; to give someone a cold reception

neutralworkdaily actions

How it's used

Focuses on the lack of diligence or effort in performing a task or duty, often implying a sense of responsibility that is being neglected. While it can apply to general work, it frequently appears in contexts where someone is expected to be attentive or thorough, such as handling a client or a critical project. It carries a slightly more formal or serious tone compared to the common colloquial term 偷懶.

Examples

nei5你zou6做je5嘢m4唔hou2好toi5怠maan6慢，lou5老baan2闆tai2睇zyu6住㗎。

Don't slack off at work, the boss is watching.

le1呢daan1單saang1生ji3意gam3咁daai6大，nei5你gam2敢toi5怠maan6慢me1咩？

This deal is so big, do you dare to slack off?

Common phrases

m4唔gam2敢toi5怠maan6慢

dare not slack off

gung1工zok3作toi5怠maan6慢

slack in work

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 待慢, which specifically refers to being a poor host or failing to treat a guest with proper hospitality. While they share the same characters in some regions, in Cantonese, 怠慢 is about slacking on duty, whereas 待慢 is about social neglect.