gong2 dak1 hau2 hoeng2講得口響讲得口响
Jyutpinggong2 dak1 hau2 hoeng2
Yalegóng dāk háu héung
Definition
To speak grandly, make empty promises, or sound convincing without taking action.
colloquialcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
This expression carries a strong sense of skepticism or mockery toward someone who makes grand promises or speaks eloquently without backing it up with action. It is frequently used to call out empty talk or performative rhetoric. Unlike simply saying someone is lying, this specifically highlights the gap between the polished delivery of the words and the lack of substance or follow through.
Examples
Stop just talking big, can you actually do it?
He usually talks a big game, but he gets exposed as soon as he tries.
Related words
Common phrases
talk a big game but fail to deliver
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive compliment about someone being a good public speaker. It is almost exclusively used in a negative or critical context to imply that the person is merely paying lip service or boasting.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
