tau1 gung1 gaam2 liu2偷工減料偷工减料

Jyutpingtau1 gung1 gaam2 liu2

Yaletāu gūng gáam líu

動詞

Definition

To cut corners; to use cheap, inferior materials or reduce quantities, especially in construction.

colloquialworkother

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong negative connotation of dishonesty and professional negligence. While it originated in the context of construction and manufacturing, it is now frequently applied to any situation where someone deliberately shortcuts a process to save money or effort at the expense of quality. It implies a moral failing rather than just a lack of skill.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋hei2起lau2樓tau1偷gung1工gaam2減liu2料，gaau2搞dou3到gaan1間uk1屋lau6漏seoi2水aa4呀。

They cut corners while building the house, which caused water leaks.

nei5你zou6做je5嘢m4唔hou2好tau1偷gung1工gaam2減liu2料，jiu3要deoi3對dak1得zyu6住loeng4良sam1心㗎。

Don't cut corners in your work, you need to have a clear conscience.

Common phrases

gung1工cing4程tau1偷gung1工gaam2減liu2料

cutting corners in engineering projects

jim4嚴zung6重tau1偷gung1工gaam2減liu2料

severe corner-cutting

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general term for being lazy, but it specifically requires the element of reducing quality or materials to gain an advantage. Using it for simple procrastination or lack of effort is inaccurate.