jat1 jin4 ji5 bai3 zi1一言以蔽之

Jyutpingjat1 jin4 ji5 bai3 zi1

Yaleyāt yìhn yíh bai jī

語句

Definition

To sum up in a word or a single sentence; in short; in a nutshell.

writtencommunication

How it's used

This is a classical idiom that retains its formal, literary flavor even when used in spoken Cantonese. It is typically placed at the very beginning of a sentence to signal that a concise summary or conclusion is about to follow. Because it sounds quite sophisticated, it is often used for rhetorical effect or to make a point sound more authoritative.

Examples

jat1一jin4言ji5以bai3蔽zi1之，keoi5佢dei6哋gan1根bun2本zau6就hai6係soeng2想tau1偷laan5懶。

In a nutshell, they just want to slack off.

le1呢gin2件si6事dim2點joeng2樣jat1一jin4言ji5以bai3蔽zi1之le1呢？

How can we sum this matter up in one sentence?

Common phrases

jat1一jin4言ji5以bai3蔽zi1之

in a nutshell

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this as a direct translation for "in short" or "anyway" in casual conversation, but it is far too formal for everyday small talk. Using it to describe trivial matters, like what you had for lunch, will sound unnatural and overly dramatic.