bat1 gung1 bat1 ging3畢恭畢敬毕恭毕敬
Jyutpingbat1 gung1 bat1 ging3
Yalebāt gūng bāt ging
Definition
Extremely polite and respectful in attitude and manner.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a nuance of being overly formal or even servile, often implying that the person is trying too hard to please someone in a position of power. While it describes a high level of respect, it can sometimes suggest a lack of sincerity or a sense of intimidation in the speaker's tone. It is rarely used in casual, peer-to-peer interactions unless one is being sarcastic.
Examples
He has always been extremely respectful in front of his elders.
Why do you need to be so overly respectful to him?
Related words
Common phrases
an extremely respectful attitude
to behave in an extremely respectful manner
Common mistake
Learners often use this to describe standard polite behavior, but it is too intense for normal social etiquette. Using it to describe a friendly interaction can make the speaker sound like they are mocking the other person or implying a master-servant dynamic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
