jat1 jau1 zi1 hok6一丘之貉

Jyutpingjat1 jau1 zi1 hok6

Yaleyāt yāu jī hohk

名詞

Definition

Birds of a feather; bad people who are cut from the same cloth or tarred with the same brush.

writtenpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, specifically used to condemn groups of people who share the same corrupt or immoral character. It is formal in origin but frequently appears in heated arguments or critical social commentary to emphasize that there is no difference between the parties involved. Unlike casual insults, it implies a shared, deep-seated moral failing rather than just a simple disagreement.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋loeng5兩go3個dou1都hai6係jat1一jau1丘zi1之hok6貉，m4唔hou2好seon3信keoi5佢dei6哋gong2講je5嘢。

Both of them are birds of a feather, don't trust what they say.

go2嗰baan1班jan4人tung4同pin3騙zi2子gan1根bun2本hai6係jat1一jau1丘zi1之hok6貉，cyun4全bou6部dou1都hai6係waai6壞jan4人。

That group of people are just like the scammers, they are all bad guys.

Common phrases

gan1根bun2本hai6係jat1一jau1丘zi1之hok6貉

are fundamentally birds of a feather

jyun4完cyun4全hai6係jat1一jau1丘zi1之hok6貉

are exactly birds of a feather

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a neutral comparison of similarity, but it is strictly pejorative. Using it to describe people who are merely similar in appearance or hobby will sound bizarrely aggressive or overly dramatic.