san1 sin1 lo4 baak6 pei4新鮮蘿蔔皮新鲜萝卜皮

Jyutpingsan1 sin1 lo4 baak6 pei4

Yalesān sīn lòh baahk pèih

Definition

Someone who is overly self-important or thinks too highly of themselves.

colloquialpeopleslang

How it's used

This phrase is a classic piece of Hong Kong sarcasm used to mock someone who acts arrogant or self-important. It literally refers to fresh radish skin, which is a cheap and common food item, making the comparison inherently belittling. It is almost exclusively used in the structure 你以為自己係新鮮蘿蔔皮呀 to deflate someone's ego.

Examples

nei5你ji5以wai4為zi6自gei2己hai6係san1新sin1鮮lo4蘿baak6蔔pei4皮aa4呀？

Do you think you are so special?

keoi5佢ji5以wai4為zi6自gei2己hou2好san1新sin1鮮lo4蘿baak6蔔pei4皮，kei4其sat6實mou5冇jan4人lei5理keoi5佢。

She thinks she is so marvelous, but actually nobody cares about her.

Common phrases

ji5以wai4為zi6自gei2己hai6係san1新sin1鮮lo4蘿baak6蔔pei4皮

to think one is so special

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase in a literal sense, as it has no connection to actual food quality. It is strictly an idiomatic insult and will sound nonsensical if used to describe an object or a positive situation.