sau3 coi4 bat1 ceot1 mun4 ，nang4 zi1 tin1 haa6 si6秀才不出門，能知天下事秀才不出门，能知天下事
Definition
To gain wide knowledge of world affairs through extensive reading without having to travel.
How it's used
This idiom is frequently invoked in the digital age to describe how modern technology allows people to stay informed about global events from the comfort of their own homes. While it traditionally refers to a scholar's deep wisdom gained through books, it now often carries a slightly ironic or playful tone when applied to someone who just spends all day scrolling through social media. It highlights the shift from physical travel to information access as the primary source of worldly knowledge.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of someone who is antisocial or a homebody. It is important to remember that the focus is on the acquisition of knowledge rather than the act of staying indoors.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
