hou2 sau2 mei5好手尾
Jyutpinghou2 sau2 mei5
Yalehóu sáu méih
Definition
Describing someone who always cleans up after themselves and leaves things tidy.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Focusing on the concept of finishing a task completely, this term implies that a person leaves no loose ends or mess for others to deal with. It is a high compliment in a work or shared living environment, suggesting reliability and consideration for others. The opposite, 冇手尾, is a common criticism for someone who is messy or leaves chores unfinished.
Examples
keoi5佢zou6做je5嘢hou2好jau5有sau2手mei5尾，mui5每ci3次jung6用jyun4完di1啲gung1工geoi6具dou1都wui6會fong3放faan1返hou2好。
He is very thorough with his work; he always puts the tools back after using them.
Remember to clean up properly after using the kitchen, don't leave any trash behind.
Related words
Common phrases
to clean up someone else's mess
to be messy or leave things unfinished
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with being skilled or talented, as it specifically refers to the habit of tidying up or completing the final stages of a task, not the quality of the work itself.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
