gai1 ming4 gau2 dou6雞鳴狗盜鸡鸣狗盗
Jyutpinggai1 ming4 gau2 dou6
Yalegāi mìhng gáu douh
Definition
Petty skills, tricks, or talents of little value.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Originating from historical anecdotes about people using minor, often unsavory skills to escape danger, this idiom carries a strong sense of disdain. It is used to dismiss someone's abilities as trivial, sneaky, or lacking in moral substance. Unlike general terms for skill, it implies that the person is wasting their time on low-level cunning rather than developing genuine talent.
Examples
He is always up to petty tricks, he really has no future.
Do you think these are real skills? They are just petty tricks.
Related words
Common phrases
to engage in petty tricks
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual minor hobbies or harmless quirks. It specifically carries a negative connotation of being sneaky, dishonest, or beneath someone's dignity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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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.
