bat1 kau4 sam6 gaai2不求甚解

Jyutpingbat1 kau4 sam6 gaai2

Yalebāt kàuh sahm gáai

語句

Definition

Not seeking to understand something thoroughly; content with a superficial understanding or rote memorization.

neutralschoolwork

How it's used

Originating from the writings of Tao Yuanming, this idiom describes a person who reads or learns without digging deep into the meaning. While it can be used to describe a humble scholar who prefers grasping the general spirit over getting bogged down in details, it is almost exclusively used as a criticism in modern daily life. It implies a lazy or superficial attitude toward learning or work.

Examples

keoi5佢duk6讀syu1書seng4成jat6日bat1不kau4求sam6甚gaai2解，naan4難gwaai3怪sing4成zik1績gam3咁caa1差。

He always studies without trying to understand, no wonder his grades are so bad.

nei5你tai2睇syu1書m4唔hou2好bat1不kau4求sam6甚gaai2解，jiu3要nam2諗haa5下noi6內jung4容sin1先dak1得㗎。

Don't just skim through books without understanding; you need to think about the content.

Common phrases

duk6讀syu1書bat1不kau4求sam6甚gaai2解

to study without seeking to understand

gung1工zok3作bat1不kau4求sam6甚gaai2解

to work in a superficial manner

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a positive trait of being efficient or quick, but it is a negative critique of someone being careless or superficial. It is not used to describe someone who is 'flexible' or 'pragmatic'.