hoi1 sam1 gin3 sing4開心見誠开心见诚
Jyutpinghoi1 sam1 gin3 sing4
Yalehōi sām gin sìhng
Definition
To be completely honest and frank, with nothing to hide.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This idiom implies a level of sincerity where one is willing to lay all cards on the table to resolve a conflict or reach an agreement. It is frequently used in professional or serious personal negotiations to signal that the speaker has no hidden agenda. Using this phrase effectively sets a tone of mutual trust and transparency.
Examples
Since we're all being open and honest, let's not hide anything.
Related words
Common phrases
to have a frank discussion
to speak one's mind openly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being happy, as the word 開心 here functions as part of the idiom meaning open or transparent, rather than the emotion of joy.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
