gou1 toi4 gwai3 sau2高抬貴手高抬贵手
Jyutpinggou1 toi4 gwai3 sau2
Yalegōu tòih gwai sáu
Definition
To plead with someone to show mercy or to be lenient.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom functions as a polite, formal, or sometimes sarcastic request for leniency. It is frequently used when appealing to someone in a position of authority, such as a boss, a police officer, or a landlord, to avoid harsh punishment or strict enforcement of rules.
Examples
Boss, please show some mercy and give me another chance.
He made a mistake, can you be lenient and let him off?
Related words
Common phrases
begging you to show mercy
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase in casual, everyday situations where you simply want someone to help you with a minor task, as it carries a heavy tone of pleading for mercy or forgiveness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
