ok3 jan4 sin1 gou3 zong6惡人先告狀恶人先告状

Jyutpingok3 jan4 sin1 gou3 zong6

Yaleok yàhn sīn gou johng

語句Uncommon

Definition

The guilty party files a complaint first to accuse the victim.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This idiom is used to describe a manipulative tactic where someone who is clearly in the wrong preemptively accuses the victim to shift blame or gain the upper hand. It carries a strong sense of indignation and is often used when the speaker feels the injustice of the situation is obvious to everyone present.

Examples

ming4明ming4明hai6係keoi5佢zing2整laan6爛，dim2點gaai2解jiu3要ok3惡jan4人sin1先gou3告zong6狀aa4呀？

It was clearly them who broke it, why are they accusing me first?

nei5你m4唔hou2好ok3惡jan4人sin1先gou3告zong6狀，ming4明ming4明hai6係nei5你ci4遲dou3到sin1先。

Don't you try to turn the tables on me, you were the one who arrived late.

Common phrases

zung6仲gam2敢ok3惡jan4人sin1先gou3告zong6狀

still dare to turn the tables on the victim

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple accusation, but it specifically requires the person doing the accusing to be the one who committed the original fault. It cannot be used if the person accusing is actually the victim.