daai6 saa2 taai3 gik6大耍太極大耍太极
Jyutpingdaai6 saa2 taai3 gik6
Yaledaaih sá taai gihk
Definition
To avoid talking about a certain topic by talking in circles or dodging questions.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Originating from the martial art of the same name, this phrase describes the slow, circular, and defensive movements used to deflect an opponent's attack. It is used metaphorically to describe someone who skillfully deflects questions or avoids giving a straight answer by being intentionally vague or shifting the focus. It implies a sense of frustration on the part of the speaker who is trying to pin the other person down.
Examples
When I asked him when he would pay me back, he just dodged the question.
Stop beating around the bush, can you just get to the point?
Related words
Common phrases
dodging the question again
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being quiet or shy. It specifically describes an active, often calculated effort to evade a topic while still engaging in the conversation.
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.
