sai6 jyun6 dong3 sik6 saang1 coi3誓願當食生菜誓愿当食生菜
Jyutpingsai6 jyun6 dong3 sik6 saang1 coi3
Yalesaih yuhn dong sihk sāang choi
Definition
To easily and casually make promises or oaths with no intention of keeping them.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This idiom vividly captures the casual attitude of someone who treats serious commitments as trivially as consuming a vegetable. It is frequently used to criticize people who lack integrity or follow-through, particularly in political or interpersonal contexts. The phrase implies that the speaker is merely talking for the sake of immediate satisfaction rather than genuine intent.
Examples
He always makes empty promises, don't believe him.
You said you would help me, how come you just broke your word?
Related words
Common phrases
used to making empty promises
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe someone who simply forgets a promise; it specifically implies a lack of sincerity or a deliberate disregard for the commitment from the very beginning.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
