gong2 dou6 lei5講道理讲道理
Jyutpinggong2 dou6 lei5
Yalegóng douh léih
Definition
To reason things out, be reasonable, or argue with logic.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This phrase is frequently used to describe the act of engaging in a logical discussion, but it often carries a hint of frustration when someone is being unreasonable. It is common to hear it used in the negative form to suggest that a person is stubborn or beyond persuasion. When you say someone is 唔講道理, you are essentially calling them irrational or pigheaded.
Examples
It is useless to try and reason with him.
Let's sit down and reason things out calmly.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean simply talking or chatting, as it specifically implies a logical or argumentative context. It is not a synonym for 傾偈.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
