pok3璞
Jyutpingpok3
Yalepok
Definition
An unpolished gem; jade in its rough, uncut state.
writtendescriptionspeople
How it's used
Refers metaphorically to someone who possesses great talent or virtue but lacks refinement or formal training. It carries a sense of hidden value that requires time and effort to reveal. The term is rarely used in everyday casual speech and leans towards a literary or appreciative register.
Measure word
gau6嚿gauhExamples
He is like an unpolished gem, he still has a lot of potential.
This person is an unpolished gem, worth cultivating well.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the common word 樸, which relates to simplicity or plainness. While both share a similar visual component, 璞 specifically evokes the image of a raw gemstone waiting to be carved.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
