jyu5 jin4 bat1 coeng4語焉不詳语焉不详
Definition
To mention something without going into detail; to speak unclearly or gloss over.
How it's used
This idiom carries a formal and slightly critical tone, often used to imply that someone is intentionally avoiding details or being evasive. It is frequently applied in professional or journalistic contexts to describe statements that lack necessary transparency. While it is a four character idiom, it is perfectly acceptable to use in spoken Cantonese when you want to sound more precise or stern about someone's lack of clarity.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for simply meaning 'unclear' or 'confusing', but it specifically implies a deliberate choice to omit details or provide an incomplete explanation. It is not used to describe someone who is just bad at explaining things.
Grammar color guide
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.
