min6 bat1 goi2 sik1面不改色
Jyutpingmin6 bat1 goi2 sik1
Yalemihn bāt gói sīk
Definition
To keep a straight face, or to remain calm and composed without changing color.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite being used in everyday speech to describe someone who remains composed under pressure or during deception. It often implies a level of psychological fortitude or, in negative contexts, a practiced ability to lie without showing guilt. Unlike simple descriptions of being calm, this idiom specifically highlights the lack of visible reaction on one's face.
Examples
He told a lie without changing his expression, it is really impressive.
Facing such great pressure, how do you manage to keep a straight face?
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple description of being calm, but it specifically refers to the facial expression remaining unchanged. It is not used to describe internal feelings of peace, but rather the external appearance of composure.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
