jat1 gong2 cou4 cou1 cou4 cou1 zau6 dou3一講曹操，曹操就到一讲曹操，曹操就到
Jyutpingjat1 gong2 cou4 cou1 cou4 cou1 zau6 dou3
Yaleyāt góng chòuh chōu chòuh chōu jauh dou
Definition
Speak of the devil; used when someone appears unexpectedly right when they are being talked about.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
This idiom is a direct cultural borrowing from the Chinese classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where the character Cao Cao arrives unexpectedly. It functions as a fixed expression used to remark on the coincidence of someone appearing right after being mentioned. Unlike English idioms that might feel slightly rude, this is commonly used in casual conversation to highlight a funny or surprising coincidence.
Examples
Speak of the devil, you're back already?
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
