ji6 hei3 bok3 ji4 hei1義氣搏兒戲义气搏儿戏
Jyutpingji6 hei3 bok3 ji4 hei1
Yaleyih hei bok yìh hēi
Definition
To act out of loyalty only to be treated with flip carelessness, or to risk everything on a gamble.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This phrase describes the painful realization that prioritizing personal loyalty over self-interest often leads to being taken advantage of. It carries a cynical tone, suggesting that the world is too harsh for such idealism. It is typically used as a warning to someone who is being too trusting or sacrificing too much for others who do not reciprocate.
Examples
Don't be so naive, loyalty just makes you a fool.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive virtue, but it is actually a lament or a warning about the futility of blind loyalty. It is not a formal idiom and should only be used in casual, conversational settings when discussing interpersonal conflicts or betrayal.
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.
