bai3 mun4 si1 gwo3閉門思過闭门思过
Jyutpingbai3 mun4 si1 gwo3
Yalebai mùhn sī gwo
Definition
To reflect on one's own mistakes behind closed doors; to self-reflect in private.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite being used in daily life. It implies a voluntary or self-imposed period of isolation to focus on personal growth rather than just being grounded or punished by someone else. It is often used in a slightly teasing or dramatic way when someone has clearly messed up.
Examples
He did something wrong, he should go home and reflect on his mistakes.
Related words
Common phrases
an attitude of self-reflection
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply staying home to rest or hide. It specifically carries the nuance of introspection and acknowledging past errors, so using it for someone just relaxing at home will sound confusing or overly serious.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
