hin3 cau2獻醜献丑
Jyutpinghin3 cau2
Yalehin cháu
Definition
To show one's incompetence; a humble expression used when presenting one's own work or performance.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
Used almost exclusively as a humble expression before or after performing a skill, such as singing, playing an instrument, or calligraphy. It functions as a social lubricant to lower expectations and show modesty, even if the speaker is actually quite talented. It is rarely used in serious or professional contexts where confidence is expected.
Examples
I sing terribly, please forgive my poor performance today.
Related words
Common phrases
It is better to conceal one's weakness than to show it off.
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone else's performance, as it would be a direct insult. It is strictly a self-deprecating term for your own actions.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
