mou5 fan1 cyun3冇分寸

Jyutpingmou5 fan1 cyun3

Yalemóuh fān chyun

Definition

To have no sense of propriety; to have no sense of knowing what is appropriate or what is the acceptable limits

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Focuses on a lack of social awareness or an inability to read the room. It implies that someone has crossed a boundary of acceptable behavior, often by being too loud, too pushy, or overly familiar in a situation that calls for restraint.

Examples

nei5 gong2 je5 gam3 mou5 fan1 cyun3 hou2 jik6 dak1 zeoi6 jan4 gaa4

你講嘢咁冇分寸，好易得罪人㗎。

You speak so tactlessly, it is easy to offend people.

keoi5 zou6 je5 zan1 hai6 hou2 mou2 fan1 cyun3 seng4 jat6 lyun6 lai4

佢做嘢真係好冇分寸，成日亂嚟。

He really has no sense of propriety in his work and is always messing around.

Common phrases

gong2 je5 mou5 fan1 cyun3

講嘢冇分寸

to speak without tact

zou6 si6 mou5 fan1 cyun3

做事冇分寸

to act without knowing one's limits

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with being simply rude or mean. A person can be well intentioned but still be described as 冇分寸 if they fail to recognize the appropriate social limits of a situation.