jung4 jan4 zi6 jiu5庸人自擾庸人自扰
Jyutpingjung4 jan4 zi6 jiu5
Yaleyùhng yàhn jih yíuh
Definition
To worry about nothing; to make problems for oneself.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe someone who creates their own anxiety or trouble out of thin air. It carries a slightly critical tone, implying that the person is being irrational or overly sensitive about a situation that does not actually warrant such concern. It is frequently used to advise someone to calm down and stop overthinking.
Examples
Don't worry about nothing, nothing happened at all.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard verb phrase, but it functions as a descriptive idiom for a person's state of mind. It is not used to describe external problems imposed by others, only self-inflicted mental distress.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
