joeng4 coeng4 ji4 heoi3揚長而去扬长而去
Jyutpingjoeng4 coeng4 ji4 heoi3
Yaleyèuhng chèuhng yìh heui
Definition
To swagger off; to stride away callously or without a care.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of arrogance and indifference, typically used to describe someone who leaves a scene after causing trouble or ignoring their responsibilities. It implies a deliberate, unbothered attitude, often making the person appear cold or heartless to onlookers. While it is a four-character idiom, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese to emphasize the audacity of someone's departure.
Examples
He took the money and swaggered off, completely ignoring how others felt.
Related words
Common phrases
to swagger off
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a neutral way to say someone left, but it is highly negative and judgmental. It should not be used to describe someone simply walking away from a normal situation, as it specifically highlights a lack of accountability or a display of ego.
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.
