si3 bat1 kap6 sit6駟不及舌驷不及舌
Jyutpingsi3 bat1 kap6 sit6
Yalesi bāt kahp siht
Definition
Once a word is spoken, even a team of four horses cannot overtake it.
writtencommunication
How it's used
This idiom carries a formal and cautionary tone, often used to warn someone about the permanence of their speech. While it originates from classical literature, it remains a standard way in modern Cantonese to emphasize that spoken words are like horses pulling a chariot that cannot be stopped once they start running. It is most effective when used in serious advice or when someone is about to regret a hasty comment.
Examples
Once you say it, you can't take it back, think carefully before you speak.
Related words
Common phrases
Be careful with your words, you cannot take them back.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common daily expression, but it is actually a formal idiom that sounds quite heavy in casual conversation. Using it in a lighthearted or trivial situation can make the speaker sound overly dramatic or pedantic.
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.
