kiu5 hau2 caam5 sau2蹺口杉手跷口杉手
Jyutpingkiu5 hau2 caam5 sau2
Yalekíuh háu cháahm sáu
Definition
Awkward, tricky, or difficult to deal with.
colloquialother
How it's used
This idiom describes a situation or person that is thorny, awkward, or frustratingly resistant to progress. It carries a sense of physical obstruction, as if you are trying to handle something that is sharp or jagged, making it hard to get a firm grip. It is most frequently used in professional or task-oriented contexts where a process has become unnecessarily complicated.
Examples
This business deal is really tricky; we've been working on it for ages and still haven't settled it.
Related words
Common phrases
to handle a thorny issue
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a physical description of an object, but it is almost exclusively used to describe abstract situations, negotiations, or difficult personalities. Do not use it to describe a literal physical object that is hard to hold.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
