ceoi4 bo1 zuk6 lau4隨波逐流随波逐流

Jyutpingceoi4 bo1 zuk6 lau4

Yalechèuih bō juhk làuh

動詞

Definition

To blindly follow the crowd or drift with the tide without one's own stance, direction, or goal.

neutralpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, implying a lack of critical thinking or personal integrity. It is frequently used to criticize people who adopt popular opinions or lifestyles simply because everyone else is doing so. While it describes a passive state, it is often used in active advice to encourage someone to stand their ground.

Examples

nei5你zou6做jan4人m4唔hou2好seng4成jat6日ceoi4隨bo1波zuk6逐lau4流，jiu3要jau5有zi6自gei2己nam2諗faat3法。

Don't just drift with the tide all the time, you should have your own ideas.

keoi5佢wai6為zo2咗jung4融jap6入hyun1圈zi2子，ging2竟jin4然ceoi4隨bo1波zuk6逐lau4流heoi3去maai5買ni1呢di1啲je5嘢。

To fit in with the group, he actually followed the trend and bought these things.

Common phrases

maang4盲muk6目ceoi4隨bo1波zuk6逐lau4流

blindly drift with the tide

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a neutral way to describe following a trend, but it is almost always a criticism of someone's lack of independent judgment. Avoid using it to describe harmless fashion choices unless you intend to sound judgmental.