sik1 ho2 ji4 zi2適可而止适可而止
Jyutpingsik1 ho2 ji4 zi2
Yalesīk hó yìh jí
Definition
To not overdo something; to stop before going too far or doing too much.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
This idiom functions as a verb phrase and is frequently used as a piece of advice or a warning to someone who is pushing a situation too far. It carries a slightly formal or didactic tone despite being used in everyday speech to correct someone's behavior. It is most effective when used to set boundaries in social interactions or habits like gambling, drinking, or teasing.
Examples
You should know when to stop playing games, don't stay up all night.
You really need to know when to stop, don't talk so offensively.
Related words
Common phrases
to advise someone to know when to stop
one should know when to stop in life
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective meaning moderate, but it is strictly an action-oriented phrase that implies a conscious decision to stop an ongoing activity. Do not use it to describe a person's personality; use it only to describe the act of stopping an action.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
