zik6 gyun2 jat1 hung1席卷一空
Jyutpingzik6 gyun2 jat1 hung1
Yalejihk gyún yāt hūng
Definition
To sweep clean; to carry off or steal absolutely everything.
writtendaily actionsother
How it's used
This idiom describes a situation where everything is taken or cleared out, often implying a sudden or thorough action. While it can be used for theft, it is also frequently used in contexts like sales or buffet lines where items are snatched up quickly by a crowd. It carries a sense of total removal that leaves nothing behind.
Related words
Common phrases
valuables all taken away
goods all swept up
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb, but it functions as a descriptive phrase for the state of being completely cleared out. Ensure the context implies a total removal, as using it for taking just a few items sounds unnatural.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
