fu1 hin5 sak1 zaak3敷衍塞責敷衍塞责
Jyutpingfu1 hin5 sak1 zaak3
Yalefū híhn sāk jaak
Definition
To do one's work half-heartedly and only go through the motions.
writtenworkdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation of laziness and lack of professional integrity. It is specifically used to describe someone who does just enough to avoid immediate trouble without actually completing the task properly. You will often hear it in workplace complaints or when criticizing someone who lacks a sense of responsibility.
Examples
He always does his work in a perfunctory way, it is hard to trust him.
Related words
Common phrases
perfunctory in one's work
perfunctory attitude
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for simple laziness, but it specifically refers to the act of going through the motions to satisfy a requirement rather than just being inactive. It implies a deceptive element where the person pretends to be working when they are actually cutting corners.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
