jat1 si3 bin6 zi1 lung4 jyu5 fung6一試便知龍與鳯一试便知龙与鳯
Jyutpingjat1 si3 bin6 zi1 lung4 jyu5 fung6
Yaleyāt si bihn jī lùhng yúh fuhng
Definition
One can tell the wheat from the chaff with just a single trial.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is a vivid way to describe putting something or someone to the test to reveal their true quality or worth. It implies that the difference between the superior and the inferior is stark and immediately apparent once an evaluation is made. While it sounds slightly more formal than everyday slang, it is frequently used in casual conversation to express confidence in a forthcoming result.
Examples
Whether this product is good or not, one trial will tell.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal reference to dragons and phoenixes, but it is strictly a metaphorical expression for distinguishing quality. Do not use it to describe actual animals or mythological creatures.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
