caak3 ziu1 paai4拆招牌
Jyutpingcaak3 ziu1 paai4
Yalechaak jīu pàaih
Definition
To challenge and defeat a master to ruin their reputation, or to humiliate someone to their face.
- to challenge and defeat a master of a certain craft or martial arts school
- figurativeto humiliate someone to their face or ruin their reputation
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Originating from the martial arts world where a school's signboard represented its honor, this term now functions as a strong metaphor for public humiliation or professional sabotage. It implies a direct, face to face confrontation where one party intentionally seeks to expose the other's incompetence or ruin their standing. Using this phrase carries a heavy tone of aggression and is rarely used in casual, friendly banter.
Examples
He came here today specifically to humiliate me, it is really embarrassing.
Are you trying to challenge my reputation? Why are you speaking so loudly?
Related words
Common phrases
deliberately come to humiliate someone
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply criticizing someone. It requires a deliberate, public act of undermining someone's established authority or reputation, not just a minor disagreement or private complaint.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
