jat1 bat1 waan4 jat1 bat1一筆還一筆一笔还一笔

Jyutpingjat1 bat1 waan4 jat1 bat1

Yaleyāt bāt wàahn yāt bāt

語句

Definition

To treat or discuss two things separately and not mix them up.

colloquialpeoplecommunication

How it's used

This expression is used to insist on compartmentalizing different issues, especially when someone tries to use one situation to excuse or justify another. It acts as a firm boundary-setting phrase during arguments or negotiations. It is common to hear it repeated in a parallel structure, such as A還A，B還B, to emphasize that each item must be addressed on its own merits.

Examples

nei5你jat1一bat1筆waan4還jat1一bat1筆，ze3借cin2錢waan4還ze3借cin2錢，m4唔hou2好gong2講maai4埋di1啲gam2感cing4情je5嘢。

Let's keep things separate; borrowing money is one thing, don't bring emotions into it.

gung1公si6事si1私si6事jiu3要jat1一bat1筆waan4還jat1一bat1筆，m4唔hou2好laau4撈maai4埋jat1一cai4齊cyu5處lei5理aa4呀。

Work and personal matters should be treated separately, don't mix them up.

Common phrases

laau4撈maai4埋jat1一cai4齊

to mix things together

fan1分hoi1開lai4嚟gong2講

to discuss separately

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to mean simply doing things one at a time, but it specifically refers to keeping distinct issues or moral responsibilities separate rather than sequential task management.