maai6 faa1 zaan3 faa1 hoeng1賣花讚花香卖花赞花香
Jyutpingmaai6 faa1 zaan3 faa1 hoeng1
Yalemaaih fā jaan fā hēung
Definition
To praise one's own products or work; to blow one's own trumpet.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly cynical or teasing tone, implying that someone's positive opinion is biased because they have a personal stake in the outcome. It is frequently used when someone is promoting their own work, business, or personal achievements to others. While it can be used to call out arrogance, it is often employed in a lighthearted way to acknowledge that self-promotion is expected in certain situations.
Examples
He always says his company is the best; he really loves to sing his own praises.
nei5你gok3覺dak1得ni1呢go3個gai3計waak6劃hou2好sing4成gung1功？nei5你hai6係mai6咪maai6賣faa1花zaan3讚faa1花hoeng1香aa4呀？
You think this plan is a big success? Are you just blowing your own trumpet?
Related words
Common phrases
to sing one's own praises
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply confident or talented. It specifically refers to the act of praising one's own work or product, not general self-confidence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
