se4 syu2 jat1 wo1蛇鼠一窩蛇鼠一窝
Jyutpingse4 syu2 jat1 wo1
Yalesèh syú yāt wō
Definition
A gang of bad people working together; a den of thieves.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, specifically implying a conspiracy or a corrupt alliance between bad actors. It is rarely used to describe neutral or positive groups, even if they share similar traits. It is most commonly applied to corrupt officials, criminals, or people colluding to deceive others.
Examples
Those two are in cahoots, don't trust them.
That group is a bunch of crooks, always teaming up to scam people.
Related words
Common phrases
simply a bunch of crooks
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a neutral way to say people have similar interests, but it is strictly reserved for negative, often illicit, associations. Using it to describe friends with shared hobbies will sound like you are accusing them of criminal activity.
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.
