zap1 sau2 mei5執手尾执手尾
Jyutpingzap1 sau2 mei5
Yalejāp sáu méih
Definition
To clean up a mess, deal with aftermath, or finish a task left behind by someone else.
- to clean up a mess or deal with problems arising from a situation
- to finish remaining work or pick up a task left incomplete by another
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
This expression implies that someone else has left behind a mess or unfinished business that requires extra effort to resolve. It carries a strong sense of frustration or annoyance, as the speaker is forced to take responsibility for another person's incompetence or oversight. It is frequently used in office environments or group projects to describe the burden of fixing someone else's mistakes.
Examples
He is so careless at work, I have to clean up his mess every single time.
Who is going to deal with the aftermath once you finish this?
Related words
Common phrases
to clean up someone's mess
to be sick of cleaning up after others
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simply finishing a task. It specifically refers to fixing problems or completing tasks that were left in a state of disarray by someone else, rather than just completing one's own assigned 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.
