bat1 daa2 zi6 ziu1不打自招
Jyutpingbat1 daa2 zi6 ziu1
Yalebāt dá jih jīu
Definition
To confess or reveal one's misdeeds without being asked or pressured.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Originating from classical Chinese, this idiom is used in modern Cantonese to describe someone who inadvertently reveals their own guilt or secrets without being pressured. It carries a sense of irony because the person often exposes themselves through nervousness or a slip of the tongue. It is frequently used in contexts involving police investigations or social situations where someone accidentally reveals a hidden truth.
Examples
He panicked as soon as he saw the police, really spilling the beans on himself.
Related words
Common phrases
simply spilling the beans
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple confession, but it specifically implies that the revelation was unintentional or foolishly self-incriminating. It is not used for a formal or voluntary confession of a crime.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
