cing1 zyun1 saa1 lei4青磚沙梨青砖沙梨

Jyutpingcing1 zyun1 saa1 lei4

Yalechīng jyūn sā lèih

Definition

A xiehouyu (xiehouyu) meaning tough, stubborn, or not as easy to bully as they look.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This is a classic Cantonese riddle phrase, or 歇後語, where the second half is implied. The full phrase is 青磚沙梨，咬唔入， meaning a green brick and a sand pear are both impossible to bite into. It is used to warn others that a person's mild appearance is deceptive and they are actually quite formidable or stubborn.

Examples

nei5你mai1咪tai2睇keoi5佢hou2好ci5似hou2好seon4純，kei4其sat6實keoi5佢hai6係cing1青zyun1磚saa1沙lei2梨lai2嚟㗎。

Don't be fooled by his innocent look, he's actually a tough nut to crack.

keoi5佢ping4平si4時m4唔ceot1出seng1聲，daan6但nei5你cin1千kei4祈m4唔hou2好gaau2搞keoi5佢，keoi5佢hai6係cing1青zyun1磚saa1沙lei2梨lai2嚟㗎。

He is usually quiet, but you better not mess with him, he's not someone you can easily bully.

Related words

synonymngaang6 gwat1 tau4硬骨頭ngangh gwāt tàuhantonymhou2 hap1好恰hóu hāp

Common phrases

cing1青zyun1磚saa1沙lei2梨，ngaau5咬m4唔jap6入

Green brick and sand pear, impossible to bite into (a tough person).

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of fruit or building materials. It is strictly a metaphorical label for a person and should never be used to describe actual objects.