coi4 gou1 baat3 dau2才高八斗

Jyutpingcoi4 gou1 baat3 dau2

Yalechòih gōu baat dáu

形容詞

Definition

Greatly talented, especially in the fields of arts and academics.

neutralpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is rooted in a historical anecdote about the poet Cao Zhi, who was said to possess eight tenths of the world's literary talent. It is almost exclusively used to praise someone's intellectual or artistic prowess rather than practical or physical skills. While it sounds quite formal, it is frequently used in a slightly hyperbolic or sarcastic way to describe someone who is exceptionally bright or perhaps a bit of a know-it-all.

Examples

keoi5佢zan1真hai6係coi4才gou1高baat3八dau2斗，se2寫je5嘢hou2好jau5有sam1深dou6度。

He is truly a man of great talent, his writing has a lot of depth.

nei5你ji5以wai4為zi6自gei2己coi4才gou1高baat3八dau2斗zau6就ho2可ji5以tai2睇m4唔hei2起jan4人？

Do you think you can look down on others just because you are highly talented?

Common phrases

coi4才gou1高baat3八dau2斗ge3嘅jan4人

a person of great talent

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply good at their job or physically skilled, as it specifically implies academic or literary brilliance. It is not a casual term for being smart in a street-wise or common-sense way.