bai6 zau2 zi6 zan1敝帚自珍
Jyutpingbai6 zau2 zi6 zan1
Yalebaih jáu jih jān
Definition
To cherish one's own humble possessions, or to treat insignificant things as treasures.
writtendescriptionsother
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe a humble attitude toward one's own possessions or creations, often implying that while others might see them as worthless, the owner finds them precious. It carries a self-deprecating tone, acknowledging that the object is objectively insignificant. It is rarely used in casual conversation and often appears in written contexts or when someone is being ironic about their own attachment to old items.
Examples
Although this old shirt is torn, I still treasure it as if it were valuable.
Do you really have to treat this like a treasure? It's just trash, you know.
Related words
Common phrases
the mindset of treasuring one's own humble belongings
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive compliment. It is strictly used to describe one's own things and should not be used to describe someone else's belongings, as that would sound sarcastic or insulting.
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.
