man1 bei2 tung4 ngau4 bei2蚊髀同牛髀

Jyutpingman1 bei2 tung4 ngau4 bei2

Yalemān béi tùhng ngàuh béi

語句

Definition

Incomparable; a comparison between two things of vastly different scales, strength, or status.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

This idiom highlights a massive disparity in quality, size, or status between two entities. It is primarily used to dismiss the possibility of a fair comparison because one party is vastly inferior to the other. While it functions as a noun phrase, it is most commonly used after the verb 係 to describe a situation.

Examples

nei5你fan6份jan4人gung1工tung4同keoi5佢bei2比，gaan2簡zik6直hai6係man1蚊bei2髀tung4同ngau4牛bei2髀。

Your salary compared to his is like comparing a mosquito's thigh to an ox's.

loeng5兩gaan1間gung1公si1司kwai1規mou4模caa1差gam3咁jyun5遠，gan1根bun2本hai6係man1蚊bei2髀tung4同ngau4牛bei2髀。

The scale of the two companies is so different, it is like comparing a mosquito's thigh to an ox's.

Common phrases

gaan2簡zik6直hai6係man1蚊bei2髀tung4同ngau4牛bei2髀

simply like a mosquito's thigh compared to an ox's

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe things that are just slightly different, as it implies an extreme, almost comical gap in scale. It is also strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal writing or professional reports.