nim1 faa1 je5 cou2拈花惹草
Jyutpingnim1 faa1 je5 cou2
Yalenīm fā yéh chóu
Definition
To habitually flirt with and seduce many people.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation and is almost exclusively used to criticize men who are unfaithful or promiscuous. Unlike neutral terms for dating, it implies a lack of moral integrity and a habitual tendency to seek out multiple romantic interests simultaneously. It is frequently used in arguments or when gossiping about someone's character flaws.
Examples
He is always flirting around, he is really a player.
Why do you have to flirt with others and cause such a mess at home?
Related words
Common phrases
to flirt around everywhere
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of gardening or appreciating flowers. It is strictly a metaphorical idiom for romantic misconduct and should never be used to describe actual hobbies involving plants.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
