tong4 ji1糖衣
Jyutpingtong4 ji1
Yaletòhng yī
Definition
Sugar coating, especially over something bitter.
- sugar coating
- figurativesomething attractive used to mask something unpleasant
colloquialdescriptionsother
How it's used
Used primarily in a metaphorical sense to describe something that appears attractive or pleasant on the surface but hides a negative or harmful reality. It is frequently applied to deceptive business deals, manipulative flattery, or policies that sound good but have harsh consequences. The literal meaning of a sugar coating on a pill is rarely the focus of daily conversation.
Measure word
cang4層chànghExamples
This contract is just sugar-coated, there are many traps inside.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general sweet-talk like 甜言蜜語, but 糖衣 specifically carries the connotation of a deliberate, deceptive disguise for something bitter or dangerous.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
