jyu4 jyu5 hung4 zoeng2 bat1 ho2 gim1 dak1魚與熊掌不可兼得鱼与熊掌不可兼得
Jyutpingjyu4 jyu5 hung4 zoeng2 bat1 ho2 gim1 dak1
Yaleyùh yúh hùhng jéung bāt hó gīm dāk
Definition
You cannot have your cake and eat it; you must choose between two desirable but mutually exclusive things.
neutralother
How it's used
This idiom is a classic reference to Mencius, highlighting the necessity of making difficult trade-offs when two desirable outcomes are mutually exclusive. It is frequently used in professional or life-planning contexts to remind others that resources or time are limited. While it sounds formal, it is perfectly acceptable to use in casual conversation to explain why a compromise is impossible.
Examples
Related words
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.
