jin4 do1 bit1 sat1言多必失

Jyutpingjin4 do1 bit1 sat1

Yaleyìhn dō bīt sāt

Definition

He who talks too much will inevitably make a slip of the tongue; the less said, the better.

neutralcommunicationother

How it's used

This idiom serves as a warning against oversharing or speaking impulsively in social or professional settings. It is often used as a piece of advice to someone who is currently rambling or being too opinionated. Unlike casual slang, it carries a slightly formal or didactic tone, often used by older generations to caution younger people.

Examples

nei5你gong2講siu2少geoi3句laa1啦，jin4言do1多bit1必sat1失aa4呀。

Say less, you know the saying: the less said, the better.

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日gong2講co3錯je5嘢，zan1真hai6係jin4言do1多bit1必sat1失。

He always says the wrong things; he really talks too much and makes mistakes.

Common phrases

gei3記zyu6住jin4言do1多bit1必sat1失

Remember that the less said, the better

Common mistake

Learners often try to use this as a direct verb phrase, but it functions as a complete proverb or observation. It is not used to describe the act of speaking itself, but rather the negative consequence of speaking too much.