jin4 ze2 mou4 zeoi6 ,言者無罪言者无罪
Jyutpingjin4 ze2 mou4 zeoi6 ,
Yaleyìhn jé mòuh jeuih ,
Definition
Do not blame the speaker; the person expressing their opinion should not be held at fault.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
This idiom is frequently invoked as a disclaimer before offering critical feedback or unpopular opinions to encourage an open dialogue. It serves as a social contract to protect the speaker from immediate retaliation or judgment. While it implies that the speaker should be immune from blame, it is often used defensively by people who are about to say something rude or insensitive.
Examples
Feel free to speak your mind, don't worry about being blamed.
He always uses the excuse that speakers shouldn't be blamed, and speaks without thinking at all.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not assume that using this phrase grants you total immunity from social consequences. While it asks for tolerance, listeners may still find your comments offensive or inappropriate regardless of your disclaimer.
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.
