man6 fei1 so2 daap3問非所答问非所答
Jyutpingman6 fei1 so2 daap3
Yalemahn fēi só daap
Definition
To give an irrelevant answer; to not answer the question being asked.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This idiom describes a situation where someone deliberately avoids answering a specific question by bringing up unrelated topics. It carries a sense of frustration or annoyance, implying the speaker feels the other person is being evasive or playing dumb. It is frequently used in arguments or when someone is trying to dodge accountability.
Examples
I asked him what time he was leaving, but he gave me an irrelevant answer.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply not knowing the answer. This phrase specifically implies that the person understood the question but chose to provide a response that does not address it at all.
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.
