bing1 saan1 jat1 gok3冰山一角

Jyutpingbing1 saan1 jat1 gok3

Yalebīng sāan yāt gok

名詞

Definition

The tip of the iceberg; a tiny visible part of a much larger, unseen whole.

neutraldescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is used to describe a small, visible part of a much larger and often hidden problem. It carries a slightly serious or cautionary tone, frequently appearing in news reports or formal discussions about corruption, scandals, or systemic issues. While it is a four-character idiom, it fits seamlessly into casual spoken Cantonese when you want to emphasize that something is far worse than it appears.

Examples

ni1呢di1啲man6問tai4題zi2只hai6係bing1冰saan1山jat1一gok3角。

These problems are just the tip of the iceberg.

nei5你ji5以wai4為gaai2解kyut3決zo2咗？kei4其sat6實zi2只hai6係bing1冰saan1山jat1一gok3角zaa5咋。

You think it's solved? Actually, that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Common phrases

zi2只hai6係bing1冰saan1山jat1一gok3角

is just the tip of the iceberg

Common mistake

Learners sometimes mistakenly use this to describe the beginning of a process or a small amount of something positive. It is almost exclusively reserved for negative or hidden situations that imply a larger, unseen danger or complexity.