coeng3 soeng1 wong4唱雙簧唱双簧
Definition
To collaborate or play along with each other to persuade someone, typically in a scheme.
How it's used
Originally referring to a traditional performance where one person acts and another provides the voice, the term now almost exclusively describes a deceptive collaboration. It implies a coordinated effort to manipulate a situation or influence a third party. People use it to call out when two individuals seem to have rehearsed their story or are playing good cop bad cop to achieve a specific outcome.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple agreement or a harmonious partnership. It carries a strong negative connotation of manipulation or deceit, so using it to describe two people who are just getting along well will sound like you are accusing them of being dishonest.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
