suk6 jan4 maai5 po3 wok6熟人買破鑊熟人买破镬
Jyutpingsuk6 jan4 maai5 po3 wok6
Yalesuhk yàhn máaih po wohk
Definition
To be cheated, tricked, or ripped off by an acquaintance or a friend.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom specifically highlights the betrayal of trust when someone you know takes advantage of your relationship to sell you something defective or cheat you. It paints a vivid picture of buying a broken wok from an acquaintance who should have been honest with you. It is used to warn others or express frustration after a bad experience with a friend or colleague.
Examples
I never thought he would lie to me; it is truly a case of being cheated by an acquaintance.
Related words
Common phrases
beware of being cheated by an acquaintance
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe being cheated by a stranger, as the core of the idiom is the pre-existing relationship that makes the betrayal painful.
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.
