zaap3砸
Jyutpingzaap3
Yalejaap
Definition
To smash or break; to bungle, fail, or fall through.
- to smash, break, crush, or press down
- to bungle, fail, or fall through
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Used frequently in a metaphorical sense to describe a project, performance, or event that has failed or gone wrong. It carries a sense of finality, implying that the situation is beyond repair. While it can mean physically breaking something, the figurative meaning of bungling a task is extremely common in daily speech.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 爛, which describes the state of being broken. 砸 focuses on the action of smashing or the process of failing, whereas 爛 describes the resulting condition.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
