zo2 deng3阻定
Jyutpingzo2 deng3
Yalejó deng
Definition
In the way; taking up space and causing an obstruction.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Focuses on the physical or metaphorical act of being an obstacle to someone's progress. It carries a slightly more impatient or annoyed tone than the standard 阻礙, as it often implies the person being blocked is actively trying to do something. It is very common to hear it used with the intensifier 晒 to emphasize that the entire path or progress is being completely obstructed.
Examples
You are standing there and blocking everyone's way.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 阻住, which is also very common. While 阻住 is more about the state of being blocked, 阻定 often carries a stronger sense of someone being 'fixed' or 'stuck' in a position that causes the obstruction.
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.
