pok3 juk6 wan4 gam1璞玉渾金璞玉浑金

Jyutpingpok3 juk6 wan4 gam1

Yalepok yuhk wàhn gām

Definition

Uncut jade and unrefined gold; used to describe someone with a naturally kind, honest, and unadorned personality.

writtenpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is a literary expression used to praise someone for having a pure, unadorned, and sincere character. Because it originates from classical Chinese, it carries a sense of sophistication and is typically used in more formal or descriptive contexts rather than casual banter. It functions as a high compliment for someone who remains untainted by social cynicism.

Examples

keoi5佢fan6份jan4人zan1真hai6係pok3璞juk6玉wan4渾gam1金，hou2好naan4難dak1得。

He is such a genuine and honest person, it is very rare.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得keoi5佢hai6係mai6咪pok3璞juk6玉wan4渾gam1金ge3嘅jan4人aa4呀？

Do you think he is a person with a kind and honest personality?

Common phrases

sing3性gaak3格pok3璞juk6玉wan4渾gam1金

having a pure and honest personality

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a term describing physical beauty or talent, but it specifically emphasizes moral integrity and inner honesty. It is not used to describe objects or raw materials in modern spoken Cantonese.