si1 maa5 ciu1 zi1 sam1司馬昭之心司马昭之心
Jyutpingsi1 maa5 ciu1 zi1 sam1
Yalesī máh chīu jī sām
Definition
An open secret; a person's hidden, evil ambitions which are obvious to everyone.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom is almost always followed by the phrase 路人皆見, which completes the thought that the intention is visible to everyone on the street. It is used to call out someone whose ulterior motives are so transparent that they are embarrassing to watch. While it originates from historical records, it remains a very common way to mock someone who thinks they are being subtle but is actually failing miserably.
Examples
What he is doing is so obvious, everyone can see his true intentions.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this as a standalone noun phrase, but it is much more natural to include the full context or at least the second half of the idiom to make the point clear.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
