tong3 sau2 saan1 wu6燙手山芋烫手山芋

Jyutpingtong3 sau2 saan1 wu6

Yaletong sáu sāan wuh

名詞

Definition

Hot potato; a thorny and troublesome issue that nobody wants to take over.

colloquialworkother

How it's used

Used primarily in professional or organizational settings to describe a task or project that is highly problematic and carries significant risk. It implies that the situation is so difficult or politically sensitive that anyone involved is likely to suffer negative consequences. It is a direct loan translation from English but has become fully integrated into modern Cantonese business vocabulary.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

le1呢daan1單je5嘢gaan2簡zik6直hai6係tong3燙sau2手saan1山wu6芋，bin1邊go3個gam2敢zip3接aa4呀？

This matter is basically a hot potato, who dares to take it on?

lou5老baan2闆zoeng1將go3個tong3燙sau2手saan1山wu6芋deng3掟bei2畀ngo5我，zan1真hai6係caam2慘laa3喇。

The boss threw this hot potato at me, I am really miserable.

Common phrases

zip3接sau2手tong3燙sau2手saan1山wu6芋

to take over a hot potato

deng3掟bei2畀jan4人

to pass the buck

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe a physical object that is literally hot to the touch, as that would be confusing. It is strictly reserved for abstract problems or responsibilities.