gu3 cyun4 daai6 guk6顧全大局顾全大局
Jyutpinggu3 cyun4 daai6 guk6
Yalegu chyùhn daaih guhk
Definition
To take the big picture into consideration; to make a decision that benefits the situation as a whole.
neutralworkpeople
How it's used
Often used in professional or formal contexts where someone is expected to suppress their personal desires or grievances for the sake of group harmony. It carries a sense of maturity and selflessness, implying that the speaker values the collective outcome over individual ego. It is frequently invoked when someone is being asked to compromise during a disagreement.
Examples
Everyone needs to consider the bigger picture and stop arguing.
He sacrificed a lot of personal interests for the sake of the bigger picture.
Common phrases
for the sake of the bigger picture
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say 'thinking about the future', but it specifically refers to the current situation or a group project where individual needs must be set aside. It is not used for personal long-term planning.
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.
