We are all familiar with the basic way of giving advice to someone. But way back in past generations, there was one way that people used to teach lessons about everyday lives, and that was through proverbs. Proverbs are traditional and insightful sayings that are based on truth.
In this blog, we will learn about Cantonese proverbs, particularly Hong Kong proverbs, that are commonly used by Cantonese families. Proverbs can also be an indicator to assess if you are really a native Cantonese speaker or if you have a more profound knowledge of the Cantonese language and the culture behind it.
So, sit back and relax. This will be going to be long but worth it!
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Table of Contents
Cantonese Proverbs And Culture
Cantonese proverbs, particularly Hong Kong proverbs, are essential to Cantonese culture. They are not just a couple of sayings or phrases that are taught in Chinese language schools to memorize. They tell more about Cantonese culture and the way Cantonese people should behave.
When it comes to Cantonese proverbs, there’s someone whose name could never be missed -Ah To (阿塗). He is a graphic designer and part-time cartoonist concerned about Cantonese’s survival in Canton and Hong Kong. He has lately published a Cantonese comic called “The Great Canton and Hong Kong Proverbs” on Hong Kong independent media called “Passion Times.” The cartoon illustrates 81 Cantonese proverbs.
This cartoon about Hong Kong proverbs aims to propagate Cantonese culture and defend the Cantonese language. It was inspired by the oil painting “Netherlandish Proverbs” by Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel. This painting portrays many Dutch proverbs to recognize Dutch culture.
Today, even in these modern times, proverbs, Cantonese idioms, and sayings are still used to give life lessons, especially to the young ones. This serves as one of their foundations on how to be a good person growing up. A person without a foundation might end up being lost when they grow up. With the good Hong Kongers you’ll meet when they go to their country, you’ll say that these proverbs have reached their goals.
Cantonese Proverbs, sayings, and idioms are simple and brief wording that convey folk wisdom. It is widely known by ordinary local people because it has always been an essential part of their culture growing up. Cantonese proverbs are usually told by parents and other senior Cantonese family members to guide children in their lives. Preserving these Cantonese proverbs is also a way of preserving their culture.
How to Say Cantonese Proverbs, Idioms, And Sayings?
If you want to speak Cantonese and sound like a native, collect Cantonese proverbs like what you’ll read below. Aside from Cantonese proverbs, you will also learn Cantonese idioms and sayings that have been around for the past few generations. It can even teach you Cantonese grammar with different examples.
If you’re just beginning to learn the Chinese language like Cantonese, do not worry because all the Cantonese words written in Chinese characters that you’ll encounter have English translations and romanization. So, let’s check the following phrases below for Cantonese proverbs.
| Meaning | Cantonese | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| To catch crabs on a hill | 上山捉蟹 | Soeng5 Saan1 Zuk1 Haai5 |
| A ghost covers one’s eyes | 鬼揞眼 | Gwai2 Ngam2 Ngaan5 |
| Even the Buddha gets inflamed | 佛都有火 | Fat6 Dou1 Jau5 Fo2 |
| To trick a ghost into eating tofu | 呃鬼食豆腐 | Aak1 Gwai2 Sik6 Dau6 Fu6 |
| To throw a paper airplane | 放飛機 | Fong3 Fei1 Gei1 |
| If a cow doesn’t want to drink, you can’t force its head down. | 牛唔飲水唔撳得牛頭低 | Ngau4 M4 Jam2 Seoi2 M4 Gam6 Dak1 Ngau4 Tau4 Dai1 |
| Use a little knife to saw down a tree | 刀仔鋸大樹 | Dou1 Zai2 Geoi3 Daai6 Syu6 |
| A glass safe is something that appears attractive but is not useful. | 玻璃夾萬 | Bo1 Lei4 Gaap3 Maan6 |
| When one’s horse dies, one has to walk | 馬死落地行 | Maa5 Sei2 Lok6 Dei6 Hang4 |
| Water enters a pig basket | 豬籠入水 | zyu1 lung4 jap6 seoi2. |
上山捉蟹 (Soeng5 Saan1 Zuk1 Haai5)
It means “Almost impossible or Harder than hard.”
In life, there are things that we already know are impossible to happen, and we can’t do anything about it anymore. However, there are things that you thought were impossible to happen, but you’ll never know if you won’t try.
鬼揞眼 (Gwai2 Ngam2 Ngaan5)
Literal Meaning: A ghost covers one’s eyes
It means “To fail to see something.” This proverb teaches people to be critical of the things in their life. You have to look deeper at certain things because they might mean more than what you see. Opening your eyes to look deeper will make you a better person.
佛都有火 (Fat6 Dou1 Jau5 Fo2)
Literal Meaning: Even the Buddha gets inflamed
This Cantonese proverb, influenced by Buddhism, means “an intolerable degree that; past the limitations.”
Buddha has a very significant influence in Hong Kong, and Hong Kongers even celebrate Buddha’s birthday. Remember how Buddha maintains his patience to reach enlightenment? Well, how bad the things someone can do that even the Buddha can get inflamed? This proverb teaches people to know their limitations and not go beyond them. Knowing your limits will save you from affecting other people in a negative way.
呃鬼食豆腐 (Aak1 Gwai2 Sik6 Dau6 Fu6)
Literal Meaning: To trick a ghost into eating tofu
The proverb means “to trick someone.“ This is one of the very timely and relevant Cantonese proverbs today. Now that scams, phishing, catfishing, and other ways of tricking others are prevalent, this might be one of the essential Cantonese proverbs that you should learn.
Today many people fall for tricks and end up hurting or losing something significant in their lives. It will really hurt their relationships with their Cantonese friends. It’s really bothering that people nowadays can easily trick anyone even they know how awful it can be.
放飛機 (Fong3 Fei1 Gei1)
Literal Meaning: To throw a paper airplane
It means “to break a promise”. I’m sure many people will agree that broken promises are one of the worst and most painful things in life.
We should remember that keeping our word is important to avoid hurting other people’s feelings. When it is broken, even sorry in Cantonese means nothing. It teaches people to hold on to all the words and promises they make.
牛唔飲水唔撳得牛頭低 (Ngau4 M4 Jam2 Seoi2 M4 Gam6 Dak1 Ngau4 Tau4 Dai1)
Literal Meaning: If a cow doesn’t want to drink, you can’t force its head down.
In English, this is the Cantonese proverb version of “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” Each individual is accountable for their own acts. Even if you give them advice, there’s no guarantee they’ll follow it.
People do not always need advice from you when they’re going through something. Sometimes being there to listen to them is all they need to feel better. You don’t always have to say sometimes because it might just make everything worse.
刀仔鋸大樹 (Dou1 Zai2 Geoi3 Daai6 Syu6)
Literal Meaning: Use a little knife to saw down a tree.
This proverb means “using a small amount of capital to earn a large profit.”
Hong Kong is one of the Asian Tigers, and we cannot deny that it’s a country with lots of career opportunities. This proverb can be very useful, especially if you want to pursue a career in Hong Kong.
When you’re starting a business in Hong Kong, things can be too risky, so you’ll really have to be critical and think of a way that you can make a large profit out of a small capital. There are lots of big companies today that started small and worked their way up to the top.
玻璃夾萬 (Bo1 Lei4 Gaap3 Maan6)
Literal Meaning: A glass safe
It means “something that appears attractive but is not useful.” In these modern times, there are lots of things that look really nice but totally worthless. This proverb reminds us that not everything that looks nice is essential. Like in the novel The Little Prince, what is important is invisible to the eye.
馬死落地行 (Maa5 Sei2 Lok6 Dei6 Hang4)
Literal Meaning: When one’s horse dies, one has to walk.
This Cantonese proverb means “to have to rely on oneself and get through a difficult situation without assistance.” Cantonese family is really important in their culture. But, as a child, you really have to learn how to stand on your own feet. Your family will not always be there for you forever.
豬籠入水 (zyu1 lung4 jap6 seoi2.)
Literal Meaning: Water enters a pig basket
It means “to have many different ways to make money, to have money coming from many different enterprises or sources.”
What Are Other Cantonese Proverbs, Idioms, Sayings?
The Cantonese proverbs, sayings, and idioms that you have learned above are only the basic ones. If you wanna learn more about Cantonese proverbs, idioms, and sayings, check out the tables below.
If you’re just beginning to learn the Chinese language like Cantonese, do not worry because all the Cantonese words written in Chinese characters that you’ll encounter have English translations and romanization. So, let’s check the following phrases below for Cantonese proverbs.
Cantonese Proverbs And Sayings About People
| English meaning | Cantonese Proverbs | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Do whatever one wants or pleases | 和尚擔遮 wo4 soeng2 daam1 ze1 | Monk holding an umbrella |
| Dealing with a pending issue eventually even if you don’t want to | 醜婦終須見家翁 cau2 fu2 zung1 seoi1 gin3 gaa1 jung1 | An ugly woman still has to meet her husband’s father |
Tarred with the same brush | 一竹篙打一船人 jat1 zuk1 gou1 daa2 jat1 syun4 jan4 | Hitting everyone on a boat with a punt pole |
| Being more concerned about someone else’s business than they are | 皇帝唔急太監急 wong4 dai3 m4 gap1 taai3 gaam1 gap1 | The emperor is not in a hurry, but the eunuchs are |
| Not having gotten a positive reaction yet no news | 賣魚佬洗身 maai6 jyu4 lou2 sai2 san1 | A fishmonger washes his body |
| Before you do something horrible, you should test the waters | 賊佬試沙煲 caak6 lou2 si3 saa1 bou1 | A thief is testing a pot |
| Take note of the score | 盲公食湯丸 maang4 gung1 sik6 tong1 jyun2 | A blind man eats glue pudding |
| Someone who is always requesting money from others | 船頭尺 syun4 tau4 cek3 | The plumb line on a ship |
| Too few/simple/obvious that everything can be seen/understood in a “second.” | 單眼佬睇老婆 daan1 ngaan5 lou2 tai2 lou5 po4 | One-eyed man looks at his wife |
Cantonese Proverbs, Idioms, And Sayings About Animals
| English meaning | Cantonese Proverbs | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| An expert who commits a casual error in their own field of competence | 老貓燒鬚 lou5 maau1 siu1 sou1 | An old cat burns its whiskers |
| Someone who is constantly chatting | 開籠雀 hoi1 lung4 zoek3 | A bird in an open cage |
| A futile attempt to accomplish anything | 拉牛上樹 laai1 ngau4 soeng5 syu6 | To pull a cow up a tree |
| When pigs fly, impossible to happen | 豬乸會上樹 zyu1 naa2 wui2 soeng5 syu6 | A female pig can climb trees |
| Unfair competition | 大石笮死蟹 daai6 sek6 zaak3 sei2 haai5 | A big stone crushes a crab |
| Troublesome; Messy | 倒瀉籮蟹 dou2 se2 lo4 haai5 | Spilled a basket of crabs |
| Keeping oneself out of a potentially dangerous situation | 企喺城樓睇馬打交 kei5 hai2 sing4 lau4 tai2 maa5 daa2 gaau1 | Standing on a fort and watching horses fight each other |
| Using one’s existing position to search for a better one | 騎牛搵馬 ke4 ngau4 wan2 maa5 | Riding a cow looking for a horse |
| Make an attempt to palm off anything | 掛羊頭賣狗肉 gwaa3 joeng4 tau4 maai6 gau2 juk6 | Hang up a sheep’s head and sell dog meat |
| Conspiring or putting on a show | 扯貓尾 ce2 maau1 mei5 | Pull a cat’s tail |
| Being unable to take advantage of a situation | 捉到鹿唔識脫角 zuk1 dou2 luk2 m4 sik1 tyut3 gok3 | Got hold of the deer but can’t remove its antlers |
| A person who works for both sides of a transaction | 兩頭蛇 loeng5 tau4 se4 | Two-headed snake; a servant of two masters |
| Utilizing a situation to one’s benefit | 打蛇隨棍上 daa2 se4 ceoi4 gwan3 soeng5 | Hit a snake and it crawls up the stick |
| A mischievous or uncontrollable child | 甩繩馬騮 lat1 sing4 maa5 lau4 | Loose string monkey |
| Someone appears to be overjoyed as if he has unearthed gold | 馬騮執到桔 maa5 lau4 zap1 dou3 gat1 | A monkey got a tangerine |
| To disobey a rule; to reach across the table for food (alluding to Chinese chess rules) | 飛象過河 fei1 zoeng6 gwo3 ho4 | An elephant flies across the river |
| A spectator on the sidelines | 企喺城樓睇馬打交 kei5 hai2 sing4 lau4 tai2 maa5 daa2 gaau1 | To watch a horse fight from the top of a fort |
| In an emergency, to be flexible and adjust to circumstances (a reference to Chinese chess rules) | 事急馬行田 si6 gap1 maa5 hang4 tin4 | In a crisis, a horse can move in the field |
| To stake everything on a single wager; to stake everything on a single strategy | 缸瓦船打老虎 gong1 ngaa5 syun4 daa2 lou5 fu2 | Hitting a tiger inside a boat full of potteries |
| Someone gains from their misbehavior, while someone else bears the brunt of the responsibility. | 黑狗得食白狗當災 hak1 gau2 dak1 sik6 baak6 gau2 dong1 zoi1 | The black dog gets the food, the white dog gets the punishment |
| An exploiter is someone who takes advantage of others | 菠羅雞 bo1 lo4 gai1 | Pineapple chicken |
| A failure to recognize and appreciate others’ favors / charming | 狗仔抬轎 gau2 zai2 toi4 giu2 | Puppies lifting /carrying a sedan chairp |
| Disputes between members of the same group | 狗咬狗骨 gau2 ngaau5 gau2 gwat1 | A dog bites another dog’s bones |
| To take advantage of a circumstance and ask for something or something extra by taking advantage of a particular opportunity | 打蛇隨棍上 daa2 se4 ceoi4 gwan3 soeng5 | To hit a snake and it crawls up the stick |
| Knowing in one’s heart, fully comprehending, and without needing to think further (As the chicken eats fireflies, its belly lights up) | 雞食放光蟲 gai1 sik6 fong3 gwong1 cung4 | A chicken eats fireflies |
| Internal dissension, a schism, factional strife; internal infighting | 籠裏雞作反 lung4 lei5 gai1 zok3 faan2 | The chickens are fighting inside the coop |
| When one individual leaves a firm or occupation, someone else will step in to fill the void | 一雞死一雞鳴 jat1 gai1 sei2 jat1 gai1 ming4 | One chicken dies, one chicken crows |
| At one’s wits’ end | 老鼠拉龜 lou5 syu2 laai1 gwai1 | A mouse pulls a turtle |
| Unable to solve or get out of a difficulty. It’s a deadlock | 龜過門檻 gwai1 gwo3 mun4 haam5 | A tortoise passing a sill, implying someone who can’t get on or get off |
| To take something that has been misplaced or discarded by someone else | 執死雞 zap1 sei2 gai1 | To pick up a dead chicken |
| Like water off a duck’s back, to leave no impression on (the memory), to forget (a lesson). | 水過鴨背 seoi2 gwo3 ngaap3 bui3 | Water off a duck’s back |
Cantonese Proverbs, Idioms, And Sayings About Ghosts
| English meaning | Cantonese Proverbs | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Poor handwriting, illegible scribble | 鬼畫符 gwai2 waak6 fu4 | Ghost draws a talisman |
| To unknowingly let out a secret | 鬼拍後尾枕 gwai2 paak3 hau6 mei5 zam2 | A ghost slaps the back of one’s head |
| An act of allowing someone to benefit from you | 多個香爐多隻鬼 do1 go3 hoeng1 lou4 do1 zek3 gwai2 | An extra incense burner would attract an extra ghost |
| Everything is possible with money | 有錢使得鬼推磨 jau5 cin2 sai2 dak1 gwai2 teoi1 mo4 | If you have money, you can make a ghost push a millstone |
| To make your words slur | 鬼食泥 gwai2 sik6 nai4 | A ghost eats mud |
Other Cantonese Proverbs, Idioms, Sayings
| English meaning | Cantonese Proverbs | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| In a begging / humble tone | 床下底吹喇叭 cong4 haa6 dai2 ceoi1 laa1 baa1 | Blowing a horn under the bed, implying speaking at a kowtow position |
| Epic fail; A method that isn’t effective | 床下底劈柴 cong4 haa6 dai2 pek3 caai4 | Chopping wood under a bed |
| The frigid winter characterizes women who wear heavy gear on top but barely cover their legs with small skirts/short shorts | 上面蒸鬆糕，下面賣涼粉 soeng5 min6 zing1 sung1 gou1，haa6 min6 maai6 loeng4 fan2 | Steaming sponge cake on top, selling cool powder below |
| To talk for hours on the phone | 煲電話粥 bou1 din6 waa6 zuk1 | To boil telephone congee |
| Poverty is a state of being penniless | 倒吊沙煲 dou2 diu3 saa1 bou1 | A pot hung upside down |
| There isn’t enough supply to meet demand | 十個茶壺九個蓋 sap6 go3 caa4 wu4 gau2 go3 goi3 | Ten teapots and nine lids |
| To fight till one’s last breath, refusing to recognize one’s mistake | 冇柄遮 mou5 beng3 ze1 | An umbrella with a broken handle |
| To go to a store or meet someone without a specific goal, to “simply look” in a store; to squander someone’s time. | 運桔 wan6 gat1 | To ship tangerines |
| A man who is supported by a woman, i.e. he doesn’t have to work and can keep his slippers on | 食拖鞋飯 sik6 to1 haai4 faan6 | To eat slippers rice |
| To take advantage of or expropriate the property of others (a reference to Chinese chess rules) | 食人隻車 sik6 jan4 zek3 ce1 | To have eaten someone’s cart |
| Taking responsibility for something one hasn’t done | 食死貓 sik6 sei2 maau1 | To eat a dead cat |
| Bragging; Self-boasting | 放葫蘆 fong3 wu4 lou4 | To throw a gourd |
| Once the crisis is gone, betraying one’s friends, abandoning one’s friends once one is safe | 過橋抽板 gwo3 kiu4 cau1 baan2 | To pull up the planks after crossing the bridge |
| To flee a tense/ awkward situation as quickly as possible | 冇鞋挽屐走 mou5 haai4 waan5 kek6 zau2 | When there are no shoes, grab the clogs and run |
| You don’t have to be concerned about losing money. Be at ease in the face of adversity | 風吹雞蛋殼 fung1 ceoi1 gai1 daan2 hok3 | Windbreaks an eggshell |
| A location where you are free to come and go as you choose | 冇掩雞籠 mou5 jim2 gai1 lung4 | A doorless chicken coop |
| To become unpleasant, confrontational, and obnoxious (since the door gods are normally pasted up so that they face each other, but if put up wrongly, they face away from each other). | 貼錯門神 tip3 co3 mun4 san4 | To paste up the door gods wrongly |
| In every group, there are good and bad people | 樹大有枯枝 syu6 daai6 jau5 fu1 zi1 | A big tree has some dead branches |
Frequently Asked Questions About Cantonese Proverbs
What Are Cantonese Proverbs Idioms About Food?
| English meaning | Cantonese Proverbs | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Once gaining control of one’s talent or fortune | 禾稈冚珍珠 wo4 gon2 kam2 zan1 zyu1 | Rice stalks covering pearls |
| Someone who has greater experience in a particular area than another | 食鹽多過你食米 sik6 jim4 do1 gwo3 nei5 sik6 mai5 | Ate more salt than rice |
| Betraying a person; betraying one’s friends | 食碗面反碗底 sik6 wun2 min2 faan2 wun2 dai2 | Eat from a bowl and then turn it over |
| A sad occurrence, particularly death. | 冬瓜豆腐 gwai2 sik6 nai4 | Winter melon and tofu |
What Are Popular Cantonese Proverbs Idioms?
| English meaning | Cantonese Proverbs | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Make an attempt to palm off anything | 掛羊頭賣狗肉 gwaa3 joeng4 tau4 maai6 gau2 juk6 | Hang up a sheep’s head and sell dog meat |
| When pigs fly, impossible to happen | 豬乸會上樹 zyu1 naa2 wui2 soeng5 syu6 | A female pig can climb trees |
| Being more concerned about someone else’s business than they are | 皇帝唔急太監急 wong4 dai3 m4 gap1 taai3 gaam1 gap1 | The emperor is not in a hurry, but the eunuchs are |
| Everything is possible with money | 有錢使得鬼推磨 jau5 cin2 sai2 dak1 gwai2 teoi1 mo4 | If you have money, you can make a ghost push a millstone |
Wrapping Up
Okay, that’s it! You should be proud of your knowledge of proverbs now. In the past few generations, proverbs have been used to give advice or lecture people, particularly children, about life. They are also used to preserve culture and traditions so they can be passed on to future generations.
Even in modern times, you can still hear parents using proverbs to mold their children into good people. Thus, we can say that proverbs are an essential part of a culture. Cantonese proverbs are just one of the interesting things in the Cantonese language. There’s so much to discover and learn!
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