caau2 jau4 jyu2炒魷魚炒鱿鱼

Jyutpingcaau2 jau4 jyu2

Yalecháau yàuh yú

動詞Rare

Definition

To fire, sack, or lay off an employee; or for an employee to resign.

to fire; to sack; to dismiss an employee
to resign; to quit a job

colloquialwork

How it's used

This idiom derives from the way squid curls up when stir-fried, visually representing the act of rolling up one's bedding to leave a workplace. It is versatile because it functions for both being fired and choosing to resign, though context usually clarifies which direction the action is taking. Using it adds a vivid, informal touch to discussions about employment status.

Examples

keoi5佢zou6做je5嘢seng4成jat6日ceot1出co3錯，bei2俾lou5老sai3細caau2炒jau4魷jyu2魚laa3喇。

He always makes mistakes at work, so he got fired by the boss.

le1呢fan2份gung1工gam3咁san1辛fu2苦，ngo5我zan1真hai6係soeng2想caau2炒jau4魷jyu2魚m4唔lou1撈aa4呀。

This job is so exhausting, I really want to quit and stop working.

Common phrases

bei2俾jan4人caau2炒jau4魷jyu2魚

to get fired

zi6自gei2己caau2炒jau4魷jyu2魚

to resign

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for only meaning to be fired, but it is equally common for an employee to use it to describe their own decision to resign. Be careful not to use it in formal business settings, as it is strictly colloquial.