jan1 zoeng1 sau4 bou3恩將仇報恩将仇报
Jyutpingjan1 zoeng1 sau4 bou3
Yaleyān jēung sàuh bou
Definition
To bite the hand that feeds you; to repay kindness with enmity.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong moral condemnation and is used to describe a severe betrayal of trust. It implies that the perpetrator has not only failed to show gratitude but has actively caused harm to their benefactor. Because it is a formal four-character idiom, it is often used in serious discussions or when expressing deep disappointment in someone's character.
Examples
He really bit the hand that fed him; after I helped him, he still scolded me.
Why would you bite the hand that feeds you and treat someone who helped you like that?
Related words
Common phrases
simply biting the hand that feeds
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
