cek3 sau2 hung1 kyun4赤手空拳
Jyutpingcek3 sau2 hung1 kyun4
Yalechek sáu hūng kyùhn
Definition
Empty-handed; using bare hands and fists without any weapons or protective gear.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
This idiom emphasizes the vulnerability and bravery of a person who faces danger without any tools or weapons. It is frequently used in news reports or storytelling to highlight a heroic act where someone intervenes in a crime or accident despite being unarmed. Unlike standard verbs, it functions as an adverbial phrase describing the manner in which an action is performed.
Examples
He defeated several bad guys with his bare hands.
Are you planning to catch the thief with your bare hands?
Related words
Common phrases
to fight with bare hands
to catch a thief with bare hands
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply having empty hands, as it specifically implies a situation involving conflict or physical struggle. It is not used to describe someone who is simply not carrying a bag or luggage.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
