gu3 ming4 si1 ji6顧名思義顾名思义
Jyutpinggu3 ming4 si1 ji6
Yalegu mìhng sī yih
Definition
As the name suggests; self-explanatory.
neutraldescriptionscommunication
How it's used
This idiom is used to introduce a term whose meaning is inherently obvious from its constituent characters. It functions as a bridge between a label and its definition, often used when explaining technical terms or descriptive names. Unlike in formal writing where it might appear as a standalone clause, in speech it is frequently followed by a direct explanation of the term.
Examples
This is an example of something self-explanatory; you understand it as soon as you hear it.
Related words
Common phrases
as the name suggests, it is
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to mean "as I said before" or "as expected." It specifically requires that the name itself contains the definition, so it cannot be used if the meaning is arbitrary or requires external knowledge.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
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.
