cin1 gaan2 maan6 gaan2, gaan2 zoek6 go3 laan6 dang1 zaan2千揀萬揀，揀著個爛燈盞千拣万拣，拣着个烂灯盏

Jyutpingcin1 gaan2 maan6 gaan2, gaan2 zoek6 go3 laan6 dang1 zaan2

Yalechīn gáan maahn gaan2, gáan jeuhk go laahn dāng jáan

Definition

To make a bad choice out of a large number of possibilities, often in the context of choosing a spouse.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This idiom highlights the irony of being overly selective only to end up with a poor result. It is frequently used in a self-deprecating or mocking tone when someone complains about a partner who turned out to be unreliable or unfaithful. The imagery of a broken lamp suggests that despite the effort spent searching, the final choice is useless or flawed.

Examples

keoi5佢cin1千gaan2揀maan6萬gaan2揀，zeoi3最hau6後gaan2揀zoek3著go3個laan6爛dang1燈zaan2盞，zan1真hai6係caam2慘。

She was so picky, yet ended up with a loser; it is truly miserable.

nei5你cin1千gaan2揀maan6萬gaan2揀，dim2點gaai2解gaan2揀zoek3著go3個laan6爛dang1燈zaan2盞㗎？

After all that picking and choosing, why did you end up with such a bad one?

Common phrases

cin1千gaan2揀maan6萬gaan2揀

to pick and choose excessively

gaan2揀zoek3著

to end up picking

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to describe inanimate objects or minor mistakes. It is specifically reserved for significant life choices, most commonly romantic partners, where the speaker implies that the person should have known better given the amount of effort they put into choosing.