hong6 zong1 mou5 gim3 ，ji3 zoi6 pui3 gung1項莊舞劍，意在沛公项庄舞剑，意在沛公
Definition
To have a hidden, malicious motive behind a seemingly innocent action.
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone's outward actions are merely a cover for their true, often self-serving or malicious, motives. It is frequently employed in professional or political contexts to warn others that a seemingly friendly gesture or proposal is actually a calculated move to gain an advantage. Because it is a classical allusion, it carries a sophisticated and slightly cynical tone.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often struggle with the length of this phrase, as it is a complete sentence structure rather than a simple adjective or noun. It is important to remember that it functions as a descriptive phrase for a situation, so it is usually preceded by a subject or a linking verb like 係.
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.
