faan2 hau2 fuk1 sit6反口覆舌反口复舌
Jyutpingfaan2 hau2 fuk1 sit6
Yalefáan háu fūk siht
Definition
To renege on one's words; to break a promise.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of moral disapproval and is used to describe someone who is fundamentally untrustworthy. It emphasizes the act of repeatedly changing one's stance or breaking promises, making it more descriptive than simply saying someone is a liar. It is often used in arguments or when complaining about someone's lack of integrity.
Examples
Don't go back on your word; you promised to treat me, so don't flake out.
Related words
Common phrases
always reneging on one's words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb, but it functions as an adjective or descriptive phrase. It is not used to describe a single instance of forgetting a promise, but rather a character trait or a pattern of behavior.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
