jam2 zam6 zi2 hot3飲鴆止渴饮鸩止渴
Jyutpingjam2 zam6 zi2 hot3
Yaleyám jahm jí hot
Definition
To drink poison to quench thirst; to use harmful methods to solve immediate difficulties.
- literaryto drink poisonous liquor to quench thirst
- figurativeto take a harmful or short-sighted measure to solve a temporary problem
writtenother
How it's used
This idiom is a formal literary expression often used in serious discussions, news commentary, or critical analysis. While it is a four character idiom, it is frequently integrated into spoken Cantonese sentences using the copula 係 to describe self destructive behavior. It carries a strong moral or cautionary tone regarding short term fixes that lead to long term disaster.
Examples
Borrowing money to pay off debts like that is simply drinking poison to quench thirst.
Breaking the law for quick money, what is it if not drinking poison to quench thirst?
Related words
Common phrases
simply drinking poison to quench thirst
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of drinking poison, but it is strictly a metaphor for poor decision making. It should not be used to describe minor mistakes, as it implies a severe, often irreversible, negative consequence.
Grammar color guide
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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.
