jan4 cing4 zi2 gam2 bok6人情紙咁薄人情纸咁薄

Jyutpingjan4 cing4 zi2 gam2 bok6

Yaleyàhn chìhng jí gám bohk

Definition

Human relationships are fragile and easily broken; human decency is as thin as paper.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Used to express cynicism or disappointment regarding the lack of loyalty or depth in interpersonal connections. It often appears when someone feels betrayed or abandoned by an acquaintance during a time of need. The imagery of paper emphasizes how easily a bond can be torn or discarded.

Examples

ji1依gaa1家di1啲jan4人cing4情zi2紙gam3咁bok6薄，zan1真hai6係hou2好naan4難gong2講。

Nowadays human relationships are so fragile, it is really hard to say.

nei5你ji5以wai4為keoi5佢wui2會bong1幫nei5你？jan4人cing4情zi2紙gam3咁bok6薄㗎zaa3咋。

You think he will help you? Human decency is just as thin as paper.

Common phrases

gam2感taan3嘆jan4人cing4情zi2紙gam3咁bok6薄

to lament that human relationships are as thin as paper

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe physical objects or literal thinness. It is strictly reserved for the abstract quality of social bonds and human reliability.