bat1 ji5 ci4 hoi6 zi3不以詞害誌不以词害志
Jyutpingbat1 ji5 ci4 hoi6 zi3
Yalebāt yíh chìh hoih ji
Definition
don't let rhetoric spoil the message (idiom); don't get carried away with flowery speech to the detriment of what you want to say
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
Learn more on the YumCha blog
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Dictionary data from CC-Canto and CC-CEDICT, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.