sai6 jyun6 dong3 sik6 saang1 coi3䛚願當食生菜䛚愿当食生菜

Jyutpingsai6 jyun6 dong3 sik6 saang1 coi3

Yalesaih yuhn dong sihk sāang choi

Definition

To make a vow or a pledge casually without intending to follow through.

colloquialcommunicationother

How it's used

This expression vividly compares breaking a serious promise to the ease of eating a piece of lettuce. It is used to call out someone who treats their own word as worthless or fleeting. The phrase carries a strong sense of skepticism and frustration toward the person being described.

Examples

keoi5佢waa6話m4唔zoi3再ci4遲dou3到，bin1邊go3個seon3信keoi5佢䛚sai6願jyun6當dong3食sik6生saang1菜coi3呀？

He said he wouldn't be late again, but who believes his empty promises?

nei5你m4唔hou2好䛚sai6願jyun6當dong3食sik6生saang1菜，coi3講gong2咗zo2就zau6要jiu3做zou6到㗎。

Don't make empty promises, you have to do what you said.

Common phrases

dong3當sik6食saang1生coi3菜

to treat something as trivial or easy

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to describe a formal contract or a legal agreement, as it is strictly reserved for personal, verbal commitments that someone has failed to uphold.