mou4 si1 hin2 gin3 si1無私顯見私无私显见私

Jyutpingmou4 si1 hin2 gin3 si1

Yalemòuh sī hín gin sī

Definition

To inadvertently expose one's own selfish or hidden motives while trying to appear selfless.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom describes a situation where someone attempts to conceal their selfish motives by pretending to be selfless, but their actions end up exposing their true, self-serving nature. It is a sharp, critical observation often used when someone's performative generosity or feigned neutrality is transparently fake. The structure relies on the irony of the word play between the appearance of selflessness and the reality of selfishness.

Examples

keoi5佢gam3咁joeng6樣zou6做gaan2簡zik6直hai6係mou4無si1私hin2顯gin3見si1私。

The way he is acting is clearly a case of trying to hide his true intentions but revealing them instead.

nei5你jyut6越hai6係gaai2解sik1釋zau6就jyut6越mou4無si1私hin2顯gin3見si1私aa3呀。

The more you try to explain yourself, the more you are actually revealing your true motives.

Common phrases

gaan2簡zik6直hai6係mou4無si1私hin2顯gin3見si1私

simply a case of revealing one's true colors

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to describe simple hypocrisy or lying, as it specifically refers to the irony of a failed attempt to appear selfless. It is a sophisticated, slightly literary idiom that might sound overly dramatic if used in casual, low-stakes conversation.