saat3 sau2 gaan2殺手鐧杀手锏

Jyutpingsaat3 sau2 gaan2

Yalesaat sáu gáan

Definition

Trump card, finishing move, or winning tactic.

colloquialother

How it's used

Originally referring to a lethal technique in martial arts, this term now describes any decisive strategy or hidden advantage used to secure victory. It carries a sense of finality and surprise, implying that the user has been holding back this specific skill or resource until the most critical moment. It is frequently used in competitive contexts like business negotiations, sports, or even academic exams.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

le1呢ziu1招hai6係keoi5佢koi3嘅saat3殺sau2手gaan2鐧，mou5冇jan4人gu2估dou3到keoi5佢wui2會ceot1出。

This move is his trump card; nobody expected him to use it.

nei5你zung6仲jau5有me1咩saat3殺sau2手gaan2鐧mei6未ceot1出aa4呀？

What other trump cards do you have left to play?

Common phrases

ceot1出saat3殺sau2手gaan2鐧

to play one's trump card

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal weapon or a physical tool, but it is almost exclusively used metaphorically for abstract tactics, skills, or secret plans.