co1 jyun4 gam6 bin2搓圓撳扁搓圆揿扁
Jyutpingco1 jyun4 gam6 bin2
Yalechō yùhn gahm bín
Definition
To manipulate, boss around, or treat someone however one pleases.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom vividly describes a person who is being manipulated or bullied by someone else, much like dough being shaped by a baker. It implies a lack of agency or resistance from the victim, who is forced to endure whatever treatment is thrown their way. It is frequently used to describe toxic relationships or exploitative work environments where one party holds all the power.
Examples
He is always being pushed around by his boss, it is really miserable.
Don't let people walk all over you, you need to have your own stance.
Related words
Common phrases
to be pushed around by someone
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe physical objects like actual dough or clay, as the term is strictly metaphorical and reserved for describing the treatment of people.
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.
