m4 gin3 dak1 gwong1唔見得光唔见得光
Jyutpingm4 gin3 dak1 gwong1
Yalem̀h gin dāk gwōng
Definition
Shady, scandalous, or illegal; literally unable to be exposed to the light or known by others.
colloquialother
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong moral or legal implication, suggesting that the subject matter is inherently shameful or illicit. It is frequently used to describe corrupt business dealings, secret affairs, or illicit activities that would cause a scandal if revealed to the public. The imagery of light represents public scrutiny, and the phrase implies that the activity would wither or be destroyed if exposed to such scrutiny.
Examples
The business they are running is really shady.
Related words
Common phrases
shady business
shady behavior
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple private matters like a surprise party or a personal secret that is harmless. It specifically implies something that is wrong, illegal, or socially unacceptable.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
