saau2 seon3 jat1 cau4稍遜一籌稍逊一筹
Jyutpingsaau2 seon3 jat1 cau4
Yalesáau seun yāt chàuh
Definition
To be slightly inferior or a cut below.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe someone or something that is just a little bit worse than a standard or a competitor. It carries a slightly formal or literary tone, so it is often used in critiques, reviews, or when making polite comparisons. It is not typically used for major differences in quality, as it specifically highlights a subtle gap.
Examples
keoi5佢waak6畫waa2畫gei6技haau2巧seoi1雖jin4然hou2好，daan6但bei2比hei2起daai6大si1師zung6仲hai6係saau2稍seon3遜jat1一cau4籌。
His painting skills are good, but still a notch below the masters.
le1呢gaan1間caan1餐teng1廳ceot1出ban2品m4唔co3錯，bat1不gwo3過tung4同lou5老zi6字hou6號bei2比ci2始zung1終saau2稍seon3遜jat1一cau4籌。
This restaurant's food is decent, but it's still slightly inferior to the old-established ones.
Related words
Common phrases
still slightly inferior after all
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general way to say something is bad, but it specifically implies that the subject is still quite good, just not quite as good as the benchmark.
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.
