maai5 gun1 coi4 m4 zi1 ding6買棺材唔知埞买棺材唔知埞
Jyutpingmaai5 gun1 coi4 m4 zi1 ding6
Yalemáaih gūn chòih m̀h jī dihng
Definition
To have no idea what dangerous situation or person one is provoking; courting death without knowing it.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This idiom serves as a harsh warning to someone who is acting recklessly or disrespectfully toward a powerful or dangerous person. It implies that the person is so oblivious to the consequences of their actions that they would not even know where to prepare for their own demise. It is significantly more aggressive than simply saying someone is being rude or unwise.
Examples
Talking to the boss like that, you really have no idea what you are getting yourself into.
He keeps pushing the boundaries, he is basically asking for trouble.
Related words
Common phrases
simply asking for death
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase in a literal context regarding funeral arrangements, as it is strictly used as a metaphorical insult to describe someone's lack of self-awareness regarding danger.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
