bat1 fai3 ceoi1 fui1 zi1 lik6不費吹灰之力不费吹灰之力
Jyutpingbat1 fai3 ceoi1 fui1 zi1 lik6
Yalebāt fai chēui fūi jī lihk
Definition
Extremely easy; effortless.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is a set phrase used to emphasize that a task was accomplished with minimal exertion. While it sounds slightly more formal or literary than typical spoken Cantonese, it is frequently used in casual conversation to express that something was surprisingly simple. It carries a sense of confidence, often used when someone wants to downplay the difficulty of a feat they have achieved.
Examples
He won this match with absolutely no effort at all.
Related words
Common phrases
simply effortless
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of physical strength. It is strictly an idiomatic expression for ease of task completion, not a literal measurement of force.
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.
