baai6 bat1敗筆败笔
Jyutpingbaai6 bat1
Yalebaaih bāt
Definition
A poorly written stroke in calligraphy; a flaw or blemish in a work or event.
- a poorly written stroke in calligraphy
- figurativea flaw, blemish, or disappointing part of something
colloquialdescriptionsother
How it's used
Originally referring to a poorly executed brushstroke in calligraphy, this term has evolved into a common way to critique the single weak link in an otherwise successful project or event. It carries a sense of disappointment because it highlights how one small mistake can detract from an otherwise high quality effort. It is frequently used in professional or artistic critiques to pinpoint exactly where something went wrong.
Examples
The most flawed part of this design is that the colors are too dark.
The whole performance was so brilliant, why was there such a flaw at the end?
Related words
Common phrases
the only flaw
the point where it is flawed
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general word for failure or defeat, but it specifically refers to a single flaw or error within a larger, mostly successful context. It is not used to describe a total failure or a complete loss.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
