mou4 seng1 gau2 ngaau5 sei2 jan4無聲狗咬死人无声狗咬死人
Jyutpingmou4 seng1 gau2 ngaau5 sei2 jan4
Yalemòuh sēng gáu ngáauh séi yàhn
Definition
A warning to beware of quiet or low-profile people, as they can cause unexpected harm like a silent biting dog.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom serves as a warning against underestimating quiet or unassuming individuals who may harbor hidden agendas. It highlights the danger of those who operate in the shadows without drawing attention to themselves, as their actions are often sudden and severe. Unlike a barking dog that warns of its presence, these individuals strike without prior signals.
Examples
Don't judge him by his quiet nature, the quiet ones are often the most dangerous.
keoi5佢ping4平si4時m4唔ceot1出seng1聲，dim2點zi1知mou4無seng1聲gau2狗ngaau5咬sei2死jan4人，dat6突jin4然gou3告faat3發ngo5我。
He never said a word, but he caught me off guard by suddenly reporting me.
Related words
Common phrases
beware of the quiet ones
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of animal behavior, but it is strictly used to describe human character and social dynamics. Using it to describe actual dogs in a literal sense will confuse native speakers.
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.
