jiu4 mei5 hat1 lin4搖尾乞憐摇尾乞怜
Jyutpingjiu4 mei5 hat1 lin4
Yaleyìuh méih hāt lìhn
Definition
To abandon one's dignity and beg for mercy or pity.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of contempt and moral judgment, specifically targeting someone who sacrifices their dignity to curry favor or avoid punishment. It is almost exclusively used to describe behavior perceived as servile or spineless, often comparing the person to a dog seeking scraps. Because of its vivid imagery, it is a powerful rhetorical tool in both formal writing and heated arguments.
Examples
For the sake of the job, he actually fawned over his boss.
You should have some backbone; never beg for mercy in such a pathetic way.
Related words
Common phrases
to fawn over someone
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
