mong5 zi6 fei1 bok6妄自菲薄

Jyutpingmong5 zi6 fei1 bok6

Yalemóhng jih fēi bohk

Rare

Definition

To look down on oneself, underestimate one's own abilities, or feel unduly inferior.

writtenemotionpeople

How it's used

This is a formal idiom that carries a slightly literary or academic tone, making it sound more serious than common spoken phrases like 睇唔起自己. It is often used in advice or encouragement to someone who is being overly self-critical. Because it is a four-character idiom, it stands out in a casual conversation as a more emphatic way to tell someone they are underestimating their own value.

Examples

nei5你m4唔hou2好gam3咁mong5妄zi6自fei2菲bok6薄，kei4其sat6實nei5你zou6做dak1得hou2好hou2好。

Don't look down on yourself; you actually did a great job.

dim2點gaai2解nei5你jiu3要mong5妄zi6自fei2菲bok6薄le1呢？nei5你ming4明ming4明hou2好jau5有coi4才waa4華。

Why do you feel so inferior? You are clearly very talented.

Common phrases

cit3切mat6勿mong5妄zi6自fei2菲bok6薄

do not look down on yourself

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective, but it functions as a verb phrase. It is also specific to self-deprecation or lack of confidence, so it cannot be used to describe looking down on others, which would be 睇唔起人.