jau5 si6 zung1 mou4 jim6, mou4 si6 haa6 jing4 ceon1有事鐘無艷，無事夏迎春有事钟无艳，无事夏迎春
Jyutpingjau5 si6 zung1 mou4 jim6, mou4 si6 haa6 jing4 ceon1
Yaleyáuh sih jūng mòuh yim6, mòuh sih hah yìhng chēun
Definition
To seek help from capable but plain-looking people in times of trouble, but ignore them for attractive companions in peaceful times.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom originates from a classic Chinese opera story about the King of Qi and his two wives. It describes a transactional and selfish approach to relationships where someone is only valued for their utility rather than their character or loyalty. Using this phrase is a sharp, critical way to call out fair-weather friends or colleagues who disappear when things are going well.
Examples
He never looks for you normally; he only remembers you when he needs help.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often struggle to use this as a natural sentence because it is a long, literary-style idiom. It is best used as a descriptive label for a person's behavior rather than as a direct address to them.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
