jat1 wok6 kiu5 hei2一鑊繑起一镬繑起
Jyutpingjat1 wok6 kiu5 hei2
Yaleyāt wohk kíuh héi
Definition
To betray someone unexpectedly, causing them to fail or suffer a sudden setback.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This expression vividly describes a situation where someone abandons or sabotages a group, leaving everyone else to deal with the consequences. It implies a total, sudden betrayal that catches others off guard. The imagery comes from the idea of lifting everything out of a wok at once, leaving it empty.
Examples
He actually betrayed the whole team at once.
Related words
Common phrases
to betray everyone completely
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal cooking action. It is strictly a metaphorical term for betrayal or abandonment and should not be used to describe actual kitchen tasks.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
