gau2 soeng5 ngaa5 haang1狗上瓦坑

Jyutpinggau2 soeng5 ngaa5 haang1

Yalegáu séuhng ngáh hāang

語句

Definition

Xiehouyu (歇後語) meaning "there is a way" (有條路); used to suggest a secret path, motive, or affair.

colloquialpeopleother

How it's used

This is a classic Cantonese xiehouyu, or two part allegorical saying, where the first part implies the second. It specifically targets suspicious or secretive behavior, often implying an illicit romantic connection. Using it directly to someone's face is quite provocative and accusatory, so it is usually said behind someone's back.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個seng4成jat6日zing6靜gai1雞gai1雞，zan1真hai6係gau2狗soeng5上ngaa5瓦haang1坑aa4呀。

Those two are always acting sneaky, they definitely have something going on.

nei5你zou6做me1咩gam3咁gwai2鬼seoi6祟？hai6係mai6咪gau2狗soeng5上ngaa5瓦haang1坑aa4呀？

Why are you being so secretive? Are you up to something?

Common phrases

gau2狗soeng5上ngaa5瓦haang1坑，jau5有tiu4條lou6路

A dog goes up the roof, there is a way (the full idiom)

Common mistake

Learners often misunderstand this as a literal description of a dog climbing a roof. It is strictly a metaphorical idiom used to gossip about people's private lives.