jan2 ok3 joeng4 sin6隱惡揚善隐恶扬善
Definition
To praise the virtues and good deeds of others while concealing their faults and shortcomings.
How it's used
This idiom originates from Confucian classics and carries a formal, moralistic tone. While it describes a person who focuses on the positive, it can imply a lack of transparency or a deliberate attempt to sugarcoat the truth depending on the context. It is rarely used in casual, everyday banter and is more common in discussions about character, leadership, or social etiquette.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say someone is nice or kind, but it specifically refers to the act of selective disclosure. Using it to describe someone who is just generally friendly or optimistic is inaccurate, as it implies a conscious choice to omit negative information.
Grammar color guide
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.
