tau4 syu2 gei6 hei3投鼠忌器

Jyutpingtau4 syu2 gei6 hei3

Yaletàuh syú geih hei

動詞

Definition

To hesitate to take action against an evil person or problem for fear of damaging something valuable or hurting the innocent.

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How it's used

This idiom describes a situation where one is prevented from taking decisive action because the collateral damage would be too high. It is often used in professional or political contexts to explain why someone is being overly cautious or indecisive. Unlike simple hesitation, it specifically implies that the person has a clear target but is paralyzed by the potential impact on surrounding people or assets.

Examples

keoi5佢soeng2想caau2炒zo2咗go3個ging1經lei5理，daan6但jau6又tau4投syu2鼠gei6忌hei3器。

He wants to fire the manager, but he is holding back out of concern.

nei5你zou6做je5嘢gam3咁tau4投syu2鼠gei6忌hei3器，dim2點joeng2樣seng4成dou3到daai6大si6事aa4呀？

How can you achieve anything big when you are so hesitant and worried about the consequences?

Common phrases

tau4投syu2鼠gei6忌hei3器ge3嘅sam1心taai3態

a mindset of being overly cautious due to collateral concerns

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for general cowardice or lack of confidence. It is specifically about the fear of damaging something valuable while trying to remove a threat, not just being afraid of the threat itself.