gwaa2 mou5 po2 gam3 do1 sam1寡母婆咁多心
Jyutpinggwaa2 mou5 po2 gam3 do1 sam1
Yalegwá móuh pó gam dō sām
Definition
Indecisive; overthinking; unable to make a decision.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom uses the image of a widowed mother who is traditionally portrayed as having to worry about everything alone, leading to hesitation. It is a colorful, slightly old-fashioned way to describe someone who is overly cautious or unable to commit to a choice. While it can be used humorously among friends, it carries a slightly critical tone regarding someone's lack of decisiveness.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to be indecisive in life
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe someone who is literally a widow, as it is strictly used to describe a personality trait of indecisiveness. It is also considered quite informal and should be avoided in professional or formal settings.
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.
