zap1 hau2 seoi2 mei1執口水尾执口水尾
Jyutpingzap1 hau2 seoi2 mei1
Yalejāp háu séui mēi
Definition
To parrot or copy what someone else has just said instead of offering one's own ideas.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This idiom literally refers to picking up the tail end of someone else's saliva, which vividly captures the act of stealing or echoing someone's spoken words. It is used to criticize people who lack originality or who try to take credit for ideas that were just expressed by someone else. It carries a strong sense of annoyance and is often used to dismiss someone's contribution as redundant.
Examples
Stop repeating what others say all the time, can you say something new?
He just parrots others in every meeting, he has no ideas of his own.
Related words
Common phrases
always repeating what others say
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply agreeing with someone. It specifically implies that the person is lazy or unoriginal by merely repeating what has already been said, rather than contributing a unique perspective.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
