ji4 siu3 daai6 fong1貽笑大方贻笑大方
Jyutpingji4 siu3 daai6 fong1
Yaleyìh siu daaih fōng
Definition
To make a fool of oneself in front of experts; to incur the ridicule of those in the know.
writtenpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of intellectual or professional embarrassment. It specifically refers to the shame of displaying ignorance before those who are truly knowledgeable in a particular field. It is often used as a warning to someone who is about to speak or act without sufficient expertise.
Examples
If you say these amateur things out loud, you will really make a fool of yourself in front of experts.
keoi5佢deoi3對le1呢haang4行jat1一hiu3竅bat1不tung1通，lyun6亂gam3咁se2寫bou3報gou3告zi2只wui5會ji4貽siu3笑daai6大fong1方。
He knows nothing about this industry; writing a report blindly will only make him look foolish to professionals.
Related words
Common phrases
for fear of making a fool of oneself before experts
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being embarrassed, but it is strictly reserved for situations involving a lack of professional knowledge or expertise. It is not suitable for describing social awkwardness or simple mistakes.
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.
