syu6 daai6 jau5 fu1 zi1 zuk6 daai6 jau5 hat1 ji1樹大有枯枝，族大有乞兒树大有枯枝，族大有乞儿

Jyutpingsyu6 daai6 jau5 fu1 zi1 zuk6 daai6 jau5 hat1 ji1

Yalesyuh daaih yáuh fū jī juhk daaih yáuh hāt yī

Definition

Every family or large group has its black sheep or bad apples.

colloquialpeoplefamily

How it's used

This proverb serves as a philosophical reminder that in any large group or organization, diversity of character is inevitable. It is frequently used to console someone who feels embarrassed by the actions of a relative or a member of their social circle. The imagery contrasts the health of a tree with its dead branches, suggesting that outliers are a natural byproduct of scale.

Examples

syu6樹daai6大jau5有fu1枯zi1枝，zuk6族hat1乞ji1兒，nei5你m4唔hou2好taai2太gaai3介ji3意laa1啦。

There is a black sheep in every family, don't take it too much to heart.

keoi5佢uk1屋kei2企jan4人gam3咁do1多，syu6樹daai6大jau5有fu1枯zi1枝，zuk6族hat1乞ji1兒dou1都hou2好zing3正soeng4常。

With such a large family, it is normal to have a black sheep.

Common phrases

syu6樹daai6大jau5有fu1枯zi1枝

a large tree has dead branches

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal comment on gardening or poverty, but it is strictly a metaphorical expression about human behavior. Avoid using it to describe someone who is simply poor, as the term 乞兒 is specifically used here to denote a social embarrassment or a 'black sheep' rather than someone in financial need.