cau3 haang1 ceot1 cau3 cou2臭坑出臭草
Jyutpingcau3 haang1 ceot1 cau3 cou2
Yalechau hāang chēut chau chóu
Definition
An insult stating that someone of low birth or an inferior background will naturally have bad character or behavior.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This is a harsh, derogatory idiom used to attack someone's character by linking it directly to their upbringing or family background. It implies that bad traits are inherited or learned from a flawed environment, leaving no room for individual growth or change. Because it is highly offensive and judgmental, it is rarely used in polite company or to someone's face.
Examples
His whole family is so ill-mannered; it really is a case of a smelly ditch growing smelly grass.
Related words
Common phrases
it really is a case of a smelly ditch growing smelly grass
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general comment on environment, but it is specifically an insult directed at a person's character. Using it to describe a neutral situation or a non-human subject will sound unnatural and confusing to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
