zam1 m4 gat1 dou3 juk6 m4 zi1 tung3針唔拮到肉唔知痛针唔拮到肉唔知痛

Jyutpingzam1 m4 gat1 dou3 juk6 m4 zi1 tung3

Yalejām m̀h gāt dou yuhk m̀h jī tung

語句

Definition

Only when a person experiences a hardship first-hand can they truly understand the difficulty and pain of it.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This proverb serves as a sharp critique of people who lack empathy because they have not personally faced the hardship they are judging. It is most effective when used to humble someone who has been dismissive of others' struggles. The imagery of a needle piercing the flesh is visceral and highlights that true understanding requires direct, often painful, experience.

Examples

zam1針m4唔gat1拮dou3到juk6肉m4唔zi1知tung3痛，nei5你si3試gwo3過zau6就ming4明㗎gaa2喇。

You won't feel the pain until you experience it yourself; you'll understand once you try.

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日waa6話jan4人laan2懶，dim2點zi1知zam1針m4唔gat1拮dou3到juk6肉m4唔zi1知tung3痛，zi6自gei2己zou6做sin1先zi1知san1辛fu2苦。

He always calls others lazy, but he doesn't realize the struggle until he does the work himself.

Common phrases

zam1針m4唔gat1拮dou3到juk6肉m4唔zi1知tung3痛

to not feel the pain until the needle pricks one's own skin

Common mistake

Do not use this as a polite or gentle way to offer sympathy. It is inherently confrontational and implies that the listener is currently ignorant or arrogant, so it can easily cause offense if used in a professional or formal setting.