baai2 lou5 wu1擺老烏摆老乌
Jyutpingbaai2 lou5 wu1
Yalebáai lóuh wū
Definition
To make a blunder or mistake, or to score an own goal in sports.
colloquialsportsdaily actions
How it's used
This term is a more colloquial and slightly more dramatic variant of 擺烏龍. While it is frequently used in sports contexts to describe an own goal, it is equally common in daily life to describe a blunder or a clumsy error that causes embarrassment or failure. It carries a sense of irony, as the person who makes the mistake often ends up hurting their own cause.
Examples
You really made a huge mistake this time, everything is a mess now.
Related words
Common phrases
to cause something due to a mistake
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being clumsy or making a small error. It specifically implies a mistake that backfires or negatively impacts the person who committed it, similar to the concept of an own goal in sports.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
