nai4 pou4 saat3 gwo3 gong1泥菩薩過江泥菩萨过江
Jyutpingnai4 pou4 saat3 gwo3 gong1
Yalenàih pòuh saat gwo gōng
Definition
Unable to save oneself, let alone help others.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This is a classic Cantonese xiehouyu, a two-part allegorical saying where the second half is often omitted because it is so well-known. The full phrase is 泥菩薩過江，自身難保, which vividly describes the fragility of a clay statue dissolving in water. It is used to mock someone who offers help they are clearly incapable of providing due to their own precarious situation.
Examples
You haven't even sorted yourself out yet, you're like a clay buddha crossing a river.
He's struggling to save himself, how can he help you solve the problem?
Related words
Common phrases
A clay buddha crossing a river cannot even save itself.
Common mistake
Learners often forget that this is a specific cultural idiom and try to use it as a literal description of a statue, which sounds nonsensical. Ensure you only use it when someone is overextending their ability to help others while they themselves are in trouble.
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.
