wu1 lei1 daan1 dou1烏厘單刀乌厘单刀
Jyutpingwu1 lei1 daan1 dou1
Yalewū lēi dāan dōu
Definition
In complete chaos, muddled, or messy.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe a situation that is completely disorganized, messy, or out of control. It often carries a sense of exasperation or disbelief at how bad things have become. While it can describe physical clutter, it is frequently applied to abstract situations like failed plans or complicated interpersonal conflicts.
Examples
The whole thing has become such a mess, how are we going to fix it?
His room is in such a chaotic mess, it really scares people.
Related words
Common phrases
to cause a total mess
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard adjective, but it functions more like an intensifier for chaos. It is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal writing or professional settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
