pei4 fau4 ham6 syu6蚍蜉撼樹蚍蜉撼树

Jyutpingpei4 fau4 ham6 syu6

Yalepèih fàuh hahm syuh

語句

Definition

To overestimate one's own abilities, like an ant trying to shake a giant tree.

colloquialdescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is used to mock someone who attempts a task far beyond their capabilities. It carries a strong sense of futility and suggests that the person lacks self-awareness regarding their own power or influence. Unlike simply saying someone is arrogant, this phrase emphasizes the massive disparity in strength between the challenger and the target.

Examples

keoi5佢soeng2想tiu1挑zin3戰，gaan2簡zik6直hai6係pei4蚍fau4蜉ham6撼syu6樹。

He wants to challenge the big company; it's like an ant trying to shake a tree.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得zi6自gei2己ho2可ji5以goi2改bin3變sing4成go3個zai3制dou6度？pei4蚍fau4蜉ham6撼syu6樹zaa3咋wo5喎。

You think you can change the whole system? That's just an ant trying to shake a tree.

Common phrases

gaan2簡zik6直hai6係pei4蚍fau4蜉ham6撼syu6樹

simply like an ant trying to shake a tree

Common mistake

Learners often use this in formal writing, but it is actually quite dramatic and biting in speech. Avoid using it to describe genuine, well-planned efforts, as it sounds dismissive and insulting.