kui2 zek3 jan4 hau2膾炙人口脍炙人口
Definition
To be highly popular and widely praised, especially of creative or artistic works like songs, poems, or articles.
How it's used
Literally referring to roasted meat that people enjoy eating, this idiom has evolved to describe artistic works that are widely appreciated. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone, so it is more common in written reviews, formal speeches, or when discussing high-quality cultural works rather than casual daily chatter. Using it to describe a simple viral video or a passing trend might sound overly dramatic or pretentious.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for 'popular' like 受歡迎. However, it specifically implies that the work has stood the test of time or has high artistic merit, making it inappropriate for describing everyday items or fleeting trends.
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.
