mo4 zeoi2 pei4磨嘴皮

Jyutpingmo4 zeoi2 pei4

Yalemòh jéui pèih

Definition

To bicker, chatter, or spend a lot of time trying to persuade someone.

to argue, bicker, or talk endlessly
to try to persuade someone with a lot of talk

colloquialcommunicationpeople

How it's used

This expression vividly captures the physical act of wearing down one's lips through excessive talking to achieve a goal. It implies a sense of fatigue or annoyance, suggesting that the persuasion process was tedious, repetitive, or perhaps ultimately futile. It is frequently used when someone feels they have wasted their breath on a stubborn person.

Examples

ngo5我tung4同keoi5佢mo4磨zo2咗hou2好noi6耐zeoi2嘴pei4皮，keoi5佢sin1先hang2肯bong1幫sau2手。

I spent a long time persuading him, and only then did he agree to help.

nei5你sai2使mat1乜tung4同keoi5佢mo4磨zeoi2嘴pei4皮aa4呀，zik6直zip3接keoi5拒zyut6絕mai1咪dak1得lo3囉。

Why bother trying to persuade him? Just refuse him directly.

Common phrases

mo4磨zo2咗hou2好noi6耐zeoi2嘴pei4皮

spent a long time persuading

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with literal lip care or physical grooming. It is strictly a metaphorical idiom for verbal persuasion and should not be used in contexts involving actual physical contact with the mouth.