saam1 goek3 dang3三腳凳三脚凳
Jyutpingsaam1 goek3 dang3
Yalesāam geuk dang
Definition
A three-legged stool; also used figuratively to describe an unreliable person or thing.
- a three-legged stool
- figurativean unreliable person or thing
colloquialpeoplehome
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of a stool with three legs, this term is a common metaphor for someone who is unreliable, fickle, or prone to changing their mind. It draws on the physical instability of a three-legged object to describe a person whose character or promises lack a solid foundation. Using this to describe a person is quite critical and implies that they are not someone you can depend on for support.
Measure word
zoeng1張jēungExamples
This three-legged stool feels very unstable to sit on.
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply clumsy or physically awkward, as the term specifically targets the lack of trustworthiness or consistency in their personality.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
