hou2 si6 bat1 ceot1 mun4 waai6 si6 cyun4 cin1 lei5好事不出門，壞事傳千里好事不出门，坏事传千里
Jyutpinghou2 si6 bat1 ceot1 mun4 waai6 si6 cyun4 cin1 lei5
Yalehóu sih bāt chēut mùhn waaih sih chyùhn chīn léih
Definition
Good news does not travel well, but bad news travels really fast and far.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
This proverb is frequently invoked when someone is gossiping or when a scandal breaks out unexpectedly. It highlights a cynical but widely accepted observation about human nature and the speed at which negative information circulates compared to positive updates. Using it serves as a warning to be discreet because negative rumors are notoriously difficult to contain once they start.
Examples
Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news spreads fast, so be careful what you say.
Why is it that good news stays local while bad news travels so far?
Related words
Common phrases
bad news travels fast
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
