sik6 wun2 min6 faan2 wun2 dai2食碗面反碗底

Jyutpingsik6 wun2 min6 faan2 wun2 dai2

Yalesihk wún mihn fáan wún dái

Definition

To bite the hand that feeds; to be ungrateful and betray one's benefactor.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This idiom vividly describes the act of betraying someone who has provided you with your livelihood or support. The imagery of eating from a bowl and then flipping it over implies a complete disregard for the source of one's sustenance. It carries a strong moral condemnation and is typically used to criticize someone who is perceived as disloyal or treacherous.

Examples

keoi5佢bong1幫gwo3過nei5你gam3咁do1多，nei5你dim2點ho2可ji5以sik6食wun2碗min6面faan2反wun2碗dai2底aa4呀？

He helped you so much, how could you bite the hand that feeds you?

le1呢zung3種sik6食wun2碗min6面faan2反wun2碗dai2底ge3嘅jan4人，ji5以hau6後dou1都m4唔hou2好zoi3再wan2搵keoi5佢。

Don't ever look for that kind of ungrateful person again.

Common phrases

zing3正jat1一sik6食wun2碗min6面faan2反wun2碗dai2底

what a total ingrate

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of eating habits, but it is strictly a metaphorical expression for ingratitude. Ensure you do not use it to describe simple clumsiness or accidentally knocking over a bowl.