mou4 soeng1 daai6 ngaa5無傷大雅无伤大雅
Jyutpingmou4 soeng1 daai6 ngaa5
Yalemòuh sēung daaih ngáh
Definition
Harmless; of minor mistakes or violations that do not have a significant impact on the overall situation.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Focus on the nuance that this phrase is used to excuse or downplay a flaw that does not ruin the core value or integrity of something. It is often used to defend someone's character or a project's outcome when critics are being overly pedantic. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite being used in daily conversation.
Examples
This minor mistake is not a big deal, no need to worry too much.
He is sometimes rude when he speaks, but it really doesn't matter much.
Related words
Common phrases
minor flaws are not a big deal
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe something that is actually harmful or offensive, as it implies the issue is trivial and can be safely ignored. It is not appropriate for serious errors or moral failings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
