deoi3 zing3 haa6 joek6對症下藥对症下药
Definition
To treat an illness with the right medicine, or more generally, to target a problem with the appropriate solution.
How it's used
This idiom is frequently used in professional or analytical contexts to describe strategic problem solving. It implies that a generic or one size fits all approach will fail, and that success requires a precise diagnosis of the specific issue at hand. It is often used when discussing management, policy, or complex personal dilemmas.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this phrase to mean simply solving a problem, but it specifically emphasizes the alignment between the solution and the unique nature of the problem. It is not used for simple tasks like fixing a broken lightbulb, but rather for complex situations requiring careful assessment.
Grammar color guide
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).
