miu6 jyu5 lin4 zyu1妙語連珠妙语连珠
Jyutpingmiu6 jyu5 lin4 zyu1
Yalemiuh yúh lìhn jyū
Definition
To speak with a constant stream of witty and clever remarks.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is typically used to praise someone who is a natural conversationalist or the life of the party. It implies a rapid succession of clever, humorous, or insightful comments rather than just a single good joke. While it is a four character idiom, it is frequently used in casual conversation to describe someone's personality or performance during a social gathering.
Examples
They are so witty and clever with their words, I could not stop laughing all night.
How are you so witty and clever, making everything you say so funny?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being funny, but it specifically emphasizes the quality of being articulate and quick witted. It is not used to describe someone who is simply loud or silly.
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.
