hin3 zyut3獻拙献拙
Jyutpinghin3 zyut3
Yalehin jyut
Definition
To show one's inadequacy or make a fool of oneself.
colloquialother
How it's used
Used primarily as a self-deprecating expression when someone performs a skill poorly in front of others. It carries a strong sense of humility or mock-humility, often used to preemptively apologize for a lackluster performance. It is rarely used to describe others directly, as that would be quite rude.
Examples
My drawing is terrible, I shouldn't show off my inadequacy here.
Related words
Common phrases
to show off one's talent before an expert
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a neutral way to say 'to demonstrate a skill', but it is strictly negative and self-deprecating. Using it to describe someone else's work will sound like a harsh insult rather than a neutral observation.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
