zung1 wan1 gai1舂瘟雞舂瘟鸡
Jyutpingzung1 wan1 gai1
Yalejūng wān gāi
Definition
To bump around haphazardly with an unsteady gait, or to act without thinking and planning.
- figurativeto walk unsteadily, bumping around haphazardly
- figurativea person who acts impulsively without any planning
colloquialpeopleanimals
How it's used
Refers to a chicken suffering from a disease that causes it to lose its balance and stagger about blindly. It is used metaphorically to criticize someone for being disorganized, reckless, or lacking direction in their actions. The imagery captures the frantic and aimless energy of someone who is busy but ineffective.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
You act like a headless chicken, just bumping around everywhere.
Related words
Common phrases
like a headless chicken
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply physically clumsy or has a medical condition affecting their balance. It is strictly a derogatory term for someone who lacks foresight or mental focus in their behavior.
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.
