kau4 faan1 zi1 hou2 cim1求番支好籤求番支好签
Jyutpingkau4 faan1 zi1 hou2 cim1
Yalekàuh fāan jī hóu chīm
Definition
To seek advice from an experienced person, or to seek help from an eminent person.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This expression originates from the cultural practice of shaking a bamboo cylinder to receive a fortune stick at a temple. In modern colloquial speech, it is used metaphorically to describe asking a mentor or a person with authority for guidance or a solution to a difficult problem. It carries a sense of seeking wisdom or a 'blessing' in the form of advice rather than just asking for a simple favor.
Examples
If you can't handle it, go seek advice from an expert.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase when asking for basic help or manual labor, as it specifically implies seeking intellectual or strategic guidance from someone respected. Using it for trivial tasks makes the speaker sound overly dramatic or sarcastic.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
