fong3 coeng4 sin3 diu3 daai6 jyu2放長線釣大魚放长线钓大鱼
Jyutpingfong3 coeng4 sin3 diu3 daai6 jyu2
Yalefong chèuhng sin diu daaih yú
Definition
To play the long game; to be patient and make long-term plans to reap a bigger reward in the end.
colloquialwork
How it's used
This idiom is frequently used in business or interpersonal contexts where someone chooses to sacrifice immediate gains for a much larger reward later. It carries a sense of strategic patience and foresight. Unlike simply waiting, it implies an active, calculated effort to set up conditions for future success.
Examples
Don't be impatient, play the long game first.
Related words
Common phrases
to cast a long line
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.



