zi2 dung1 gwaa1 waa6 wu4 lou2指冬瓜話葫蘆指冬瓜话葫芦
Jyutpingzi2 dung1 gwaa1 waa6 wu4 lou2
Yalejí dūng gwā wah wùh lóu
Definition
To scold or criticize someone indirectly by pretending to address someone else.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This idiom describes the common passive-aggressive tactic of criticizing a target by pretending to complain about a third party. It highlights the cultural preference for avoiding direct confrontation in social settings. Using this phrase explicitly calls out the speaker for their lack of transparency.
Examples
He is beating around the bush to insult me by criticizing someone else.
Do you really need to be so indirect and passive-aggressive?
Related words
Common phrases
to point at the mulberry and curse the locust tree (similar meaning)
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply gossiping about others. The core of this expression is that the target is present and intended to hear the criticism, even though the speaker avoids addressing them directly.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
