lo2 ging2 ding6 zang6 hing3攞景定贈興攞景定赠兴
Definition
To rub salt into someone's wound; to mock someone's misfortune or rain on their parade.
How it's used
This phrase is a rhetorical question used to confront someone who is making a bad situation worse, often by mocking or pointing out failures at an inappropriate time. It carries a strong sense of indignation and is typically used when the speaker feels the other person is intentionally being malicious or insensitive. It is a very common way to call out someone for being a killjoy or a provocateur.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal question about someone's intentions, but it is almost always used as an accusation to shut down someone's insensitive remarks. Do not use this in formal settings or with people you do not know well, as it is quite confrontational.
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.
