zam1 mou5 loeng5 tau4 lei6針冇兩頭利针冇两头利

Jyutpingzam1 mou5 loeng5 tau4 lei6

Yalejām móuh léuhng tàuh leih

語句

Definition

Nothing is ever perfect; one cannot have it both ways, as everything has its pros and cons.

colloquialother

How it's used

This proverb serves as a pragmatic reminder that every choice involves a trade-off. It is frequently used to temper someone's unrealistic expectations when they are trying to maximize benefits while ignoring inevitable drawbacks. The imagery of a needle, which can only have one sharp point, makes the concept of mutually exclusive advantages very concrete and easy to grasp.

Examples

le1呢fan2份gung1工jan4人gung1工gou1高daan6但mou5冇gaa3假fong3放，zam1針mou5冇loeng5兩tau4頭lei6利aa4呀。

This job pays well but has no time off; you can't have it both ways.

nei5你jau6又soeng2想peng4平jau6又soeng2想zat1質sou3素hou2好？zam1針mou5冇loeng5兩tau4頭lei6利㗎gaa3嘛。

You want it cheap and high quality? Nothing is ever perfect.

Common phrases

zam1針mou5冇loeng5兩tau4頭lei6利

nothing is ever perfect

Common mistake

Learners often try to translate the English idiom "you can't have your cake and eat it too" directly, but this Cantonese proverb is the much more natural and culturally appropriate way to express that same sentiment.