zaan2 gaau2盞搞盏搞
Jyutpingzaan2 gaau2
Yalejáan gáau
Definition
Pointless and a waste of effort; doing something in vain.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Describes situations where an action is futile or counterproductive, often implying that the person involved is creating unnecessary trouble for themselves. It carries a slightly mocking or dismissive tone, suggesting that the effort spent is clearly not worth the outcome. It is frequently used to warn others against pursuing a plan that is doomed to be inefficient.
Examples
Doing it this way is really a waste of time.
Since it is such a waste of effort, why not just stop doing it?
Related words
Common phrases
really a waste of time
extremely pointless and troublesome
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe something that is simply difficult or challenging. It specifically refers to actions that are pointless or result in a net negative, rather than just hard work.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
