ze3 tai4 faat3 fai1借題發揮借题发挥

Jyutpingze3 tai4 faat3 fai1

Yaleje tàih faat fāi

動詞Rare

Definition

To seize on a topic or incident to express one's own views, often to vent grievances or go off-topic.

colloquialcommunicationemotion

How it's used

This idiom carries a negative connotation, implying that the speaker is being manipulative or insincere by hijacking a conversation to serve their own agenda. It is frequently used to describe someone who uses a minor issue as a pretext to vent long-standing grievances or to show off. Unlike a simple digression, it suggests a calculated effort to steer the discussion toward a specific complaint.

Examples

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使ze3借tai4題faat3發fai1揮aa4呀？gong2講faan1返zing3正tai4題laa1啦。

Do you really need to go off on a tangent? Let's get back to the point.

Common phrases

ze3借tai4題faat3發fai1揮naau6鬧jan4人

to use a topic as a pretext to scold someone

zung1鍾ji3意ze3借tai4題faat3發fai1揮

likes to seize on topics to vent

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with simply changing the subject. Remember that it specifically requires the speaker to use the current topic as a vehicle for their own hidden agenda or personal venting, rather than just being distracted.