ngau4 dou1 siu2 si3牛刀小試牛刀小试

Jyutpingngau4 dou1 siu2 si3

Yalengàuh dōu síu si

語句

Definition

To display only a fraction of one's great talent or ability in a minor task.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom carries a humble tone, implying that the task performed is far below the person's actual capability. It is often used to praise someone's hidden potential or to downplay a successful achievement as being effortless. Unlike other idioms that focus on the result, this specifically highlights the contrast between the small scale of the task and the large scale of the person's talent.

Examples

keoi5佢gam1今ci3次cit3設gai3計go3個Logo，zi2只hai6係ngau4牛dou1刀siu2小si3試ze1啫。

The logo he designed this time is just him showing off a tiny bit of his talent.

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使ngau4牛dou1刀siu2小si3試，bong1幫sau2手gaau2搞dim6掂ni1呢go3個naan4難tai4題？

Do you want to show off your skills a bit and help solve this difficult problem?

Common phrases

zi2只hai6係ngau4牛dou1刀siu2小si3試

is just a small display of talent

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to describe any small task, but it must be used in the context of someone who is highly skilled or talented. If you use it to describe a beginner doing something simple, it sounds sarcastic or incorrect.