haa6 baa1 hing1 hing1下巴輕輕下巴轻轻
Jyutpinghaa6 baa1 hing1 hing1
Yalehah bā hīng hīng
Definition
Making promises thoughtlessly or easily backsliding on commitments.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom captures the image of someone who speaks without the weight of their words, suggesting that their promises are as light as their chin. It is almost exclusively used to criticize someone for being unreliable or flippant about commitments. While it functions as an adjective, it is frequently used with the adverbial marker 咁 to describe the manner in which someone makes a promise.
Examples
Don't make promises so lightly; it will be embarrassing if you can't deliver later.
He is always making thoughtless promises, saying things without ever intending to follow through.
Related words
Common phrases
to make a promise thoughtlessly
to say something without serious intent
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with physical descriptions of a person's face. It is strictly a behavioral idiom regarding one's integrity and reliability, not a comment on anatomy.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
