ji5 leon2 gik1 sek6以卵擊石以卵击石
Jyutpingji5 leon2 gik1 sek6
Yaleyíh léun gīk sehk
Definition
To fight a hopeless battle; to pit oneself against a far stronger enemy.
writtenother
How it's used
This idiom is a formal four-character expression that retains a literary feel even when used in spoken Cantonese. It is typically reserved for serious situations where someone is clearly overestimating their own strength against an overwhelming opponent. Because of its dramatic tone, it is rarely used for trivial disagreements or minor daily conflicts.
Examples
Challenging him is simply a hopeless battle.
Why would you choose to fight a hopeless battle against him?
Related words
Common phrases
simply a hopeless battle
fundamentally a hopeless battle
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this phrase for any difficult task, but it specifically requires a power imbalance between two parties. It is not appropriate for describing a hard job or a challenging puzzle.
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.
