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B2 · Lesson 6

Idiomatic Expressions

成語俗語
What you will learn

Master colourful Cantonese idioms and four-character expressions (成語). These culturally rich phrases add depth and colour to your speech. Understanding them is also key to appreciating HK media, literature, and everyday conversation.

Dialogue

Conversation

A
我今日做嘢真係手忙腳亂，乜都做唔好。
I was really in a total mess at work today, could not do anything right.
B
係咪因為趕死線？你成日都臨急抱佛腳。
Is it because of the deadline? You always leave things to the last minute.
A
今次唔係呀，係同事甩底搞到我一個人做晒。
Not this time, my colleague bailed and I had to do everything alone.
B
吓，真係火上加油喎。你有冇同上司反映？
Wow, that really adds fuel to the fire. Did you raise it with your boss?
A
講咗，但係佢話要以大局為重，叫我忍一忍。
I did, but he said to think of the bigger picture and told me to bear with it.
B
都好嘅，做人要有耐性。塞翁失馬焉知非福，可能你嘅努力上面會睇到。
Thats fair, you need patience. A blessing in disguise perhaps, maybe your efforts will be noticed by management.
A
希望啦。我而家真係心力交瘁，想返去瞓覺。
Hopefully. Right now I am truly mentally and physically exhausted, just want to go sleep.
B
早啲休息啦。記住，船到橋頭自然直，唔使太擔心。
Get some rest early. Remember, things will work out when the time comes, do not worry too much.
Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

手忙腳亂
in a fluster / all over the place
臨急抱佛腳
last-minute cramming
甩底
bail / stand someone up
火上加油
add fuel to the fire
以大局為重
think of the bigger picture
塞翁失馬
blessing in disguise
心力交瘁
mentally and physically exhausted
船到橋頭自然直
things will work out
耐性
patience
努力
effort / hard work
反映
raise / reflect (an issue)
成語
four-character idiom
Grammar

Language Patterns

Four-character idioms (成語) in speech

成語 (sing4 jyu5) are four-character classical phrases with fixed form. They add elegance and cultural depth. In Cantonese conversation they are used more sparingly than in Mandarin but still appear frequently.
一石二鳥 — kill two birds with one stone
jat1 sek6 ji6 niu5
One stone two birds — achieve two things at once
半途而廢 — give up halfway
bun3 tou4 ji4 fai3
Give up in the middle of doing something

搞到 + result (caused / resulted in)

搞到 (gaau2 dou3) means "caused" or "resulted in". It connects an action to its (usually negative) consequence. Very colloquial.
落雨搞到全身濕晒。
lok6 jyu5 gaau2 dou3 cyun4 san1 sap1 saai3.
The rain caused me to be completely soaked.
佢遲到搞到我哋miss咗班車。
keoi5 ci4 dou3 gaau2 dou3 ngo5 dei6 miss zo2 baan1 ce1.
His lateness caused us to miss the bus.

以 A 為 B (take A as B / regard A as B)

以...為 (ji5...wai4) is a classical structure meaning "regard A as B" or "take A as the priority". 以大局為重 means "take the big picture as priority". Formal and literary.
以客為先。
ji5 haak3 wai4 sin1.
Put customers first.
以和為貴。
ji5 wo4 wai4 gwai3.
Harmony is precious / peace above all.

焉知非福 (how do you know it is not a blessing)

焉知非福 (jin1 zi1 fei1 fuk1) is the second half of 塞翁失馬. 焉知 means "how do you know" (classical). The full saying warns against hasty judgment of good or bad fortune.
失咗份工，焉知非福。
sat1 zo2 fan6 gung1, jin1 zi1 fei1 fuk1.
Lost the job, but who knows, it might be a blessing.
考試肥佬，焉知非福，因為搵到更好嘅路。
haau2 si5 fei4 lou2, jin1 zi1 fei1 fuk1, jan1 wai6 wan2 dou2 gang3 hou2 ge3 lou6.
Failed the exam, but it was a blessing — found a better path.
Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1
佢甩底 ___ 我一個人做晒。 (caused / resulted in)
  • 搞到
  • 令到
  • 變到
  • 做到
Answer
搞到
Translate · Question 2
Do not leave things to the last minute.
Answer
唔好臨急抱佛腳。
Choice · Question 3
What does 船到橋頭自然直 mean?
  • things will work out when the time comes
  • a boat needs a bridge
  • you must plan ahead
  • rivers are always straight
Answer
things will work out when the time comes
Fill_blank · Question 4
做人要 ___ 大局為重。 (take ... as)
  • 以
  • 用
  • 為
  • 做
Answer
以
Translate · Question 5
I am truly mentally and physically exhausted.
Answer
我真係心力交瘁。

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