juk6 bat1 doek3 , bat1 sing4 hei3玉不琢,不成器
Jyutpingjuk6 bat1 doek3 , bat1 sing4 hei3
Yaleyuhk bāt deuk , bāt sìhng hei
Definition
People need to be educated, disciplined, or shaped through hard work and trials to reach their full potential.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
This proverb is frequently invoked by parents or mentors to justify strict discipline or rigorous training. It carries a didactic tone and is used to frame hardship as a necessary process for personal development. Unlike casual advice, it implies that the person being addressed has innate potential that is currently unrefined.
Related words
Common phrases
jade must be polished to become a useful vessel
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of jewelry making, but it is almost exclusively used as a metaphor for human character development and education. It is not used to describe physical objects or actual craftsmanship.
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.
