sik6 zaa3 wu2食詐糊食诈糊
Jyutpingsik6 zaa3 wu2
Yalesihk ja wú
Definition
To mistakenly claim a winning hand in mahjong, or by extension, to premature celebrate a false alarm.
- to mistakenly claim a winning hand in mahjong
- figurativeto prematurely celebrate, only to find it was a false alarm
colloquialother
How it's used
Originating from mahjong, this term describes the frustration of thinking you have won only to realize your hand is invalid. It is now widely used in daily life to describe any situation where someone prematurely celebrates or announces success, only to find out it was a mistake or a misunderstanding. It carries a sense of irony and slight embarrassment for the person who made the false claim.
Examples
He thought he got a promotion, but it turned out to be a false alarm.
Are you having a false alarm? Nobody notified you at all.
Related words
Common phrases
turned out to be a false alarm
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a deliberate lie or a scam. It specifically refers to an honest mistake or a premature assumption of success, not a calculated attempt to deceive others.
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.
