ji5 lei5 fuk6 jan4以理服人
Jyutpingji5 lei5 fuk6 jan4
Yaleyíh léih fuhk yàhn
Definition
To convince people with logic and reasoning.
neutralpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This idiom carries a positive connotation of being reasonable and fair in disputes. It is often used to praise someone who maintains their composure and relies on facts rather than authority or aggression to win an argument. It is a formal expression that is frequently used in professional or serious contexts to describe a desirable leadership quality.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
attempt to convince with logic
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple verb phrase, but it is a set idiom that functions best when describing a person's character or approach to conflict resolution. Avoid using it in casual, trivial arguments where it might sound overly dramatic or pretentious.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
