zau2 hau6 mun4走後門走后门

Jyutpingzau2 hau6 mun4

Yalejáu hauh mùhn

Rare

Definition

To pull strings or gain advantages through improper means such as bribery or personal connections.

colloquialworkpeople

How it's used

This phrase carries a strong negative connotation of corruption or unfairness. It is frequently used in professional or academic contexts to describe someone bypassing standard procedures or merit-based systems through personal connections. Unlike formal terms for bribery, this idiom focuses specifically on the act of sneaking around established rules.

Examples

keoi5佢soeng2想jap6入le1呢gaan1間gung1公si1司，hai6係mai6咪kaau3靠zau2走hau6後mun2門jap6入heoi3去㗎？

Did he get into this company by pulling strings?

zou6做jan4人zeoi3最gan2緊jiu3要gung1公ping4平，m4唔hou2好seng4成jat6日nam2諗zyu6住zau2走hau6後mun2門。

It is most important to be fair in life, don't always think about using back-door channels.

Common phrases

kaau3靠zau2走hau6後mun2門

to rely on pulling strings

zau2走hau6後mun2門jap6入zik1職

to get a job through back-door influence

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe literal back doors of buildings, as that would be confusing. It is strictly a metaphorical expression for unethical shortcuts.