tim1 zi1 gaa1 jip6添枝加葉添枝加叶

Jyutpingtim1 zi1 gaa1 jip6

Yaletīm jī gā yihp

Definition

To embellish, exaggerate, or add unnecessary details to a story.

colloquialcommunication

How it's used

This idiom describes the act of adding unnecessary details or exaggerations to a story, often implying that the truth is being obscured. It is frequently used to criticize someone for being dishonest or overly dramatic when recounting events. Unlike simple lying, it specifically refers to taking a core fact and decorating it with extra, fabricated information.

Examples

nei5你gong2講je5嘢m4唔sai2使tim1添zi1枝gaa1加jip6葉㗎。

You don't need to embellish when you speak.

keoi5佢gong2講go2嗰gin2件si6事tim1添zi1枝gaa1加jip6葉zo2咗hou2好do1多。

He added a lot of embellishments to the story he told.

Common phrases

zung1鍾ji3意tim1添zi1枝gaa1加jip6葉

likes to embellish

m4唔hou2好tim1添zi1枝gaa1加jip6葉

don't embellish

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a positive way to describe creative storytelling, but it almost always carries a negative connotation of being untruthful or misleading.