siu2 jan1 siu2 wai6小恩小惠
Jyutpingsiu2 jan1 siu2 wai6
Yalesíu yān síu waih
Definition
Petty favors or small benefits of little value.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, implying that the small benefits offered are manipulative or insincere. It is frequently used to describe someone who tries to buy loyalty or silence with trivial gifts rather than addressing deeper issues. The term highlights a lack of genuine generosity and often suggests a calculated attempt to gain an advantage.
Examples
He always uses petty favours to win people over.
Related words
Common phrases
to bestow petty favours
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a genuine, small act of kindness, as it specifically implies a transactional or manipulative motive. It is not a neutral term for a small gift or favour.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
