kan4 nang4 bou2 zyut6勤能補拙勤能补拙
Jyutpingkan4 nang4 bou2 zyut6
Yalekàhn nàhng bóu jyuht
Definition
Making up for a lack of talent with hard work; diligence can compensate for clumsiness.
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How it's used
This idiom is a classic piece of advice used to encourage someone who feels they lack natural talent or are falling behind. It carries a tone of moral encouragement rather than just a description of effort. You will often hear it used by teachers or parents to motivate students who are struggling with a subject.
Examples
Although he is not very gifted, he makes up for it with hard work.
Don't be discouraged, remember that hard work can make up for a lack of talent.
Related words
Common phrases
to believe that hard work can make up for a lack of talent
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
