si6 gap1 maa5 haang4 tin4事急馬行田事急马行田

Jyutpingsi6 gap1 maa5 haang4 tin4

Yalesih gāp máh hàahng tìhn

語句

Definition

Drastic times call for drastic measures; to act flexibly and use unconventional methods in an emergency.

colloquialother

How it's used

Originating from the rules of Chinese chess, this phrase describes a situation where a player is forced to break standard movement patterns to escape a checkmate. It carries a sense of pragmatism, suggesting that rigid adherence to rules is counterproductive when facing an urgent crisis. It is frequently used to justify unconventional or slightly rule-bending solutions to immediate problems.

Examples

si6事gap1急maa5馬haang4行tin4田，ji4而gaa1家wai4唯jau5有gam3咁joeng2樣zou6做laa3喇。

Drastic times call for drastic measures, we have no choice but to do it this way now.

si6事gap1急maa5馬haang4行tin4田，nei5你m4唔hou2好zoi3再sei2死sau2守kwai1規geoi2矩laa1啦。

You need to be flexible, stop sticking to the rules so rigidly.

Common phrases

si6事gap1急maa5馬haang4行tin4田

desperate times call for desperate measures

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to justify illegal or unethical actions, as it is intended for situations where one must simply bypass bureaucratic or conventional procedures to get a job done.