piu4 dou2 jam2 ceoi1嫖賭飲吹嫖赌饮吹
Jyutpingpiu4 dou2 jam2 ceoi1
Yalepìuh dóu yám chēui
Definition
The four traditional vices: whoring, gambling, drinking, and drug-taking.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This four-character idiom serves as a moral label for a person's degenerate lifestyle. It is rarely used to describe individual actions but rather to condemn someone's overall character or lack of discipline. The term carries a heavy sense of judgment and is often used by older generations to warn against bad company.
Examples
He is always whoring, gambling, drinking, and doing drugs; he is truly beyond saving.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a list of separate hobbies, but it is a fixed expression describing a specific set of vices. Do not use it to describe someone who simply enjoys a drink or a casual bet, as it implies a destructive, life-ruining habit.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
