zau2 zing1 min6走精面

Jyutpingzau2 zing1 min6

Yalejáu jīng mihn

Definition

To use shortcuts, trickery, or petty cleverness to gain small advantages or avoid work.

colloquialpeoplework

How it's used

Describes someone who prioritizes personal gain over integrity or fairness. It implies a lack of long term vision, as the person is focused on immediate, small advantages rather than building trust or quality. It is often used to criticize colleagues or peers who avoid their fair share of work by finding loopholes.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日zau2走zeng1精min2面，gaau2搞dou3到mou5冇jan4人soeng2想tung4同keoi5佢hap6合zok3作。

He is always looking for shortcuts, so no one wants to work with him.

nei5你zou6做saang1生ji3意m4唔hou2好seng4成jat6日nam2諗zyu6住zau2走zeng1精min2面aa4呀。

Don't always think about cutting corners when you do business.

Common phrases

seng4成jat6日zau2走zeng1精min2面

always cutting corners

zung1鍾ji3意zau2走zeng1精min2面

likes to find loopholes

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply being smart or efficient. It carries a negative connotation of being sneaky or untrustworthy, so using it to describe someone who is genuinely clever or hardworking will sound like an insult.