zik6 bat1 haa6 nyun5席不暇暖
Jyutpingzik6 bat1 haa6 nyun5
Yalejihk bāt hah nyúhn
Definition
So busy that one does not even have time to sit down and warm the seat; constantly on the go.
writtenworkdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a literary and formal tone that is rarely used in casual, everyday speech. It is typically reserved for written contexts, formal presentations, or when someone wants to emphasize the extreme intensity of their workload in a slightly dramatic or sophisticated way. Using it in a standard conversation might sound overly academic or stiff.
Examples
He has been so busy lately that he is constantly on the go, not even having time to eat.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common daily expression, but it is actually a formal idiom. In casual conversation, people would much more naturally say 忙到冇停手 or 忙到一頭煙.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
