jau5 jung5 mou4 mau4有勇無謀有勇无谋
Jyutpingjau5 jung5 mou4 mau4
Yaleyáuh yúhng mòuh màuh
Definition
Brave but lacking in strategic planning; foolhardy or foolishly bold.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is frequently used to criticize someone who acts impulsively without considering the consequences. It carries a strong sense of disapproval, implying that the person's bravery is actually a liability rather than an asset. It is often applied to people in leadership or high stakes situations where strategic thinking is expected.
Examples
He is foolhardy and always gets into trouble at work.
Related words
Common phrases
a foolhardy person
to act without a plan
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with just being brave, which is 勇敢. The term specifically highlights the absence of 謀, meaning strategy or planning, so it cannot be used as a compliment.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
