dak1 se1 hou2 ji3 seoi1 wui4 sau2得些好意須回首得些好意须回首

Jyutpingdak1 se1 hou2 ji3 seoi1 wui4 sau2

Yaledāk sē hóu yi sēui wùih sáu

Definition

To quit while one is ahead, and not push one's luck too far.

colloquialother

How it's used

This proverb serves as a gentle warning against greed and overstepping boundaries when things are going well. It implies that one should be content with current gains rather than risking everything by demanding more. It is often used to advise someone who is becoming arrogant or demanding after a string of successes.

Examples

zou6做jan4人jiu3要sik1識dak1得se1些hou2好ji3意seoi1須wui4回sau2首，m4唔hou2好taai3太gwo3過fan1分。

You need to know when to stop and not push your luck too far.

nei5你ji5已ging1經jeng4贏zo2咗gam3咁do1多，dak1得se1些hou2好ji3意seoi1須wui4回sau2首laa1啦。

You have already won so much, you should know when to quit while you are ahead.

Common phrases

sik1識dak1得se1些hou2好ji3意seoi1須wui4回sau2首

to know when to stop while ahead

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple instruction to turn around, but it is strictly a metaphorical idiom about moderation and knowing when to stop. It is not used in casual conversation as frequently as shorter idioms, so using it can make you sound quite formal or like you are delivering a moral lecture.