bat1 hok6 mou4 seot6不學無術不学无术
Jyutpingbat1 hok6 mou4 seot6
Yalebāt hohk mòuh seuht
Definition
Ignorant and incompetent; having neither learning nor skills.
writtenpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of disapproval and is used to criticize someone for lacking both academic knowledge and practical skills. It is often used in formal writing or when someone wants to sound particularly stern or severe in their judgment of another person's character. While it is a four-character idiom, it fits naturally into spoken Cantonese sentences when describing someone who is lazy or unproductive.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
an ignorant and incompetent person
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say someone is not smart, but it specifically implies a lack of both education and capability, making it a much harsher insult than just calling someone stupid.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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).
