hei3 am3 tau4 ming4棄暗投明弃暗投明
Definition
To abandon the darkness and join the light; to defect from the evil side and embrace the righteous side.
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong moral weight, often used to describe someone who stops associating with a corrupt group or abandons a bad habit. It is frequently employed in a slightly dramatic or formal tone even within casual speech, making it sound like a turning point in a person's life. While it literally refers to switching sides, it is commonly applied to quitting a toxic workplace or distancing oneself from bad company.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple change of opinion, but it specifically implies moving from a morally wrong position to a correct one. Using it for trivial changes like switching brands or changing a minor preference sounds overly intense and unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
