jat1 jyu5 dou6 po3一語道破一语道破
Jyutpingjat1 jyu5 dou6 po3
Yaleyāt yúh douh po
Definition
To hit the nail on the head, or to expose a secret or someone's true thoughts with a single penetrating remark.
colloquialcommunicationdescriptions
How it's used
Carries a sense of sharp insight or revealing a hidden truth that others might be trying to conceal. It is often used to praise someone for their keen observation or to describe a moment of sudden clarity in a conversation. While it is a four character idiom, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese to describe someone who has successfully unmasked a situation.
Examples
He hit the nail on the head regarding what I was thinking.
Your remark really hit the nail on the head.
Related words
Common phrases
to reveal the truth in one remark
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say someone is correct, but it specifically implies uncovering a secret, motive, or hidden truth that was previously obscured. It is not used for simple factual corrections.
Grammar color guide
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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).
