cong4 tau4 lou6 mei5藏頭露尾藏头露尾
Jyutpingcong4 tau4 lou6 mei5
Yalechòhng tàuh louh méih
Definition
Sneaky and secretive; behaving as if hiding something.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Describes a person who is acting evasive or trying to hide their true intentions, literally evoking the image of someone hiding their head but leaving their tail exposed. It carries a negative connotation of untrustworthiness or cowardice. Use this when someone is being deliberately vague or acting suspiciously to avoid being caught.
Examples
Don't be sneaky when you do things, just say it straight if you have something to say.
Related words
Common phrases
always acting sneaky
don't be sneaky
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply shy or introverted. It specifically implies a lack of transparency or a deceptive motive, so using it for a quiet person can sound like a serious accusation of dishonesty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
