baan6 sei2 gau2扮死狗
Jyutpingbaan6 sei2 gau2
Yalebaahn séi gáu
Definition
To feign ignorance or play dumb, especially to escape responsibility.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of annoyance and moral judgment, implying that the person is cowardly or irresponsible. It is specifically used when someone is caught in a situation where they should be held accountable but chooses to feign ignorance to escape consequences. The imagery of a dead dog suggests a passive, unmoving, and unresponsive state that is meant to frustrate those seeking an explanation.
Examples
Don't pretend you don't know anything; this whole thing was clearly caused by you.
He pretends to be clueless every time trouble happens, it's really unbearable.
Related words
Common phrases
always pretending to be clueless
pretending to be clueless again
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is genuinely ignorant or confused. It is strictly reserved for situations where the person is intentionally acting oblivious to dodge blame or work.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
