ho4 dak1 ho4 nang4何德何能
Jyutpingho4 dak1 ho4 nang4
Yalehòh dāk hòh nàhng
Definition
What virtue and ability do I have; a rhetorical expression of self-deprecation asking how one deserves such honor or responsibility.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom is a humble rhetorical question used to express modesty when receiving praise, a promotion, or unexpected kindness. It functions as a way to deflect credit by suggesting one is unworthy of such high status or good fortune. It is almost exclusively used in formal or semi-formal contexts despite its appearance in spoken Cantonese.
Examples
What have I done to deserve your help like this?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal question about their skills. It is strictly a humble expression of gratitude or self-deprecation, not a genuine inquiry into one's qualifications.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
