gai1 lak6雞肋鸡肋
Jyutpinggai1 lak6
Yalegāi lahk
Definition
Chicken ribs; a metaphor for something of little value that is nonetheless hard to throw away.
colloquialotherdescriptions
How it's used
Originating from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this term describes a situation where the effort to keep something outweighs its actual benefit, yet the prospect of discarding it feels wasteful. It is frequently used in professional or project management contexts to describe tasks that are neither essential nor completely useless. Unlike simply calling something boring, it specifically highlights the internal conflict of indecision.
Examples
This job is really chicken ribs; the pay is low but I don't want to quit.
Do you think this plan is chicken ribs, or is it worth continuing?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe food that is literally bland or tasteless. It is strictly a metaphorical term for abstract concepts like jobs, relationships, or business strategies.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
