ngau1 sam1 dau3 gok3勾心鬥角勾心斗角

Jyutpingngau1 sam1 dau3 gok3

Yalengāu sām dau gok

動詞

Definition

To plot, scheme, and engage in internal strife against one another.

colloquialworkpeople

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, describing a toxic environment where people prioritize personal gain over collective goals. It is frequently used to describe office politics or power struggles within a group. Unlike simple competition, it emphasizes the hidden, manipulative, and exhausting nature of the conflict.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋bou6部mun4門seng4成jat6日ngau1勾sam1心dau3鬥gok3角，hou2好naan4難zou6做je5嘢。

Their department is always full of internal politics, making it hard to get work done.

nei5你m4唔hou2好caam1參jyu5與go2嗰di1啲ngau1勾sam1心dau3鬥gok3角ge3嘅si6事laa1啦。

Don't get involved in all that backstabbing and scheming.

Common phrases

baan6辦gung1公sat1室ngau1勾sam1心dau3鬥gok3角

office politics

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a noun phrase, but it functions as a verb phrase. It describes an ongoing state of conflict rather than a single act of betrayal.