on1 cin4 maa5 hau6鞍前馬後鞍前马后
Jyutpingon1 cin4 maa5 hau6
Yaleōn chìhn máh hauh
Definition
To follow closely and be always at someone's service.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Carries a strong nuance of being overly servile or fawning, often implying a lack of self-respect in the pursuit of pleasing someone in power. While it can describe genuine loyalty, it is frequently used sarcastically to mock someone who is acting like a lackey.
Examples
He is always at his boss's beck and call.
Related words
Common phrases
to serve someone hand and foot
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple helpfulness or professional assistance, as it implies a degree of sycophancy that can sound insulting if applied to a normal colleague or friend.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
