zau1 gun1 fong3 fo2州官放火
Jyutpingzau1 gun1 fong3 fo2
Yalejāu gūn fong fó
Definition
To abuse power by forbidding ordinary people to do what the authorities themselves are allowed to do.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Originating from the idiom 州官放火，百姓點燈, this phrase highlights the hypocrisy of those in power who act with impunity while restricting others. It is used to criticize unfair double standards where authority figures exempt themselves from rules they impose on the common people. The tone is highly critical and often carries a sense of moral indignation.
Examples
How is what they are doing any different from double standards?
This kind of hypocritical behavior is truly repulsive.
Related words
Common phrases
it is simply a case of double standards
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of arson, but it is strictly a metaphorical expression for hypocrisy and abuse of power. It is not used to describe actual fires or government policy in a neutral sense.
Grammar color guide
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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).
