zou6 dou3 hei3 kat1做到氣咳做到气咳
Jyutpingzou6 dou3 hei3 kat1
Yalejouh dou hei kāt
Definition
Extremely busy and exhausted; overworked to the point of being unable to catch one's breath.
colloquialworkemotion
How it's used
This expression vividly describes a state of being overwhelmed by work to the point of physical distress. It uses the imagery of being unable to catch one's breath to emphasize the intensity of the workload. It is commonly used when complaining to friends or colleagues about a stressful period.
Examples
The company has had so much work lately, I'm exhausted.
Related words
Common phrases
working until exhausted every single day
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal breathing difficulties caused by illness. It is strictly used to describe a heavy workload or intense activity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
