jip6 gung1 hou3 lung4葉公好龍叶公好龙
Jyutpingjip6 gung1 hou3 lung4
Yaleyihp gūng hou lùhng
Definition
To pretend to like or support something, only to reject it or shrink back when confronted with the reality of it.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom is used to call out performative enthusiasm or hypocrisy. It specifically targets people who claim to be passionate about a hobby, cause, or person, but recoil or retreat the moment they have to deal with the reality of it. It carries a strong sense of mockery towards someone whose actions contradict their stated interests.
Examples
keoi5佢seng4成jat6日waa6話zung1鍾ji3意joeng5養maau1貓，dim2點zi1知gin3見dou2到zan1真maau1貓zau6就haak3嚇dou3到zau2走，zan1真hai6係jip6葉gung1公hou3好lung4龍。
He always claims to love cats, but he runs away in fear when he sees a real one; he's such a hypocrite.
nei5你hai6係mai6咪jip6葉gung1公hou3好lung4龍㗎？gaa4講gong2就zau6天tin1下haa6無mou4敵，dik6做zou6就zau6無mou4影jing2無mou4蹤。
Are you just pretending to like it? You talk a big game but disappear when it's time to act.
Related words
Common phrases
simply pretending to like something
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
