Common Cantonese idiomatic expressions with their literal and figurative meanings, one idiom per card. Front: the Cantonese word or phrase in traditional Chinese characters with Jyutping romanization in parentheses. Back: English meaning.
40 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- 執到寶 (zap1 dou2 bou2)
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To hit the jackpot, to strike it rich- 執笠 (zap1 laap6)
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To close down a business, to go bankrupt- 行衰運 (hang4 seoi1 wan6)
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To have a streak of bad luck- 潑冷水 (po3 laang5 seoi2)
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To throw cold water on something, to discourage- 馬騮戲 (maa5 lau2 hei3)
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Mischief, monkey business, fooling around- 食白果 (sik6 baak6 gwo2)
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To suffer a disappointment or setback- 踩過界 (cai2 gwo3 gaai3)
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To overstep the mark, to cross the line- 起笑 (hei2 chiu3)
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To invite ridicule, to be laughed at- 開齋 (hoi1 zai1)
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To break a fast, to indulge after restraint- 老作 (lou2 zok3)
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To make excuses, to cover up, to cheat- 羅生門 (lo4 sang1 mun4)
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Conflicting or contradictory accounts of an event- 抄籍 (chiu1 zik1)
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To be blacklisted, to be ostracized- 靴靴聲 (hoe1 hoe1 sing1)
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Empty talk, hot air, all talk no action- 篤數 (duk1 sou3)
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To cheat, to swindle, to con- 執緊啲 (zap1 gan2 di1)
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To be stingy, to hold on tight
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