jan4 lou5 zeng1 gwai2 lou5 leng4人老精鬼老靈人老精鬼老灵
Jyutpingjan4 lou5 zeng1 gwai2 lou5 leng4
Yaleyàhn lóuh jēng gwái lóuh lèhng
Definition
As people grow older, they become wiser and more experienced.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom describes someone who has become extremely shrewd and difficult to deceive due to their long life experience. It carries a nuance of wariness, suggesting that the person is not just smart but also possesses a streetwise, sometimes slightly manipulative, edge. It is frequently used to warn others to be cautious when dealing with older, more experienced individuals.
Examples
They are old and cunning, how could you trick them so easily?
Be careful when doing business, the other party is very crafty and experienced.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply wise or knowledgeable in an academic sense. It specifically refers to social cunning and the ability to see through tricks, often implying a level of skepticism or craftiness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
