ming4 jan4 bat1 syut3 am3 waa6明人不說暗話明人不说暗话
Jyutpingming4 jan4 bat1 syut3 am3 waa6
Yalemìhng yàhn bāt syut am wah
Definition
An honest person does not hide their intentions and speaks frankly.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
This idiom is used to signal that the speaker intends to be completely transparent and honest, effectively clearing the air before a difficult conversation. It functions as a conversational bridge to drop social pretenses or diplomatic language. It is most effective when you want to establish a tone of mutual trust or when you are tired of beating around the bush.
Examples
Let's be straight, just tell me what your requirements are.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this phrase in highly formal or professional settings, as it can sound overly dramatic or aggressive. It is best reserved for peer-to-peer interactions where you want to emphasize sincerity.
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.
