hung1 hau2 mou4 pang4空口無憑空口无凭
Jyutpinghung1 hau2 mou4 pang4
Yalehūng háu mòuh pàhng
Definition
Empty promises without proof; a verbal statement carries no weight without evidence.
colloquialcommunicationmoney
How it's used
This idiom is frequently invoked when someone demands a formal contract or written receipt to avoid future disputes. It carries a slightly cynical tone, implying that people are unreliable and will easily go back on their word if there is no physical evidence. It is often paired with the concept of having things in writing to ensure accountability.
Examples
You say you'll lend me money, but verbal promises aren't proof, write it down first.
In business, it's crucial to have things in writing; who would believe mere verbal promises?
Related words
Common phrases
Verbal promises are no proof, write it down.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a casual way to say someone is lying, but it specifically emphasizes the lack of evidence or documentation rather than the intent to deceive. It is a formal idiom used in casual speech to sound more emphatic or serious about a request for proof.
Grammar color guide
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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.
