zi6 ngo5 zok3 gu2自我作古
Jyutpingzi6 ngo5 zok3 gu2
Yalejih ngóh jok gú
Definition
To be a pioneer or originator of something; to not be bound by conventionality.
writtenpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a nuanced sense of breaking away from established norms to forge a new path. While it can imply creativity and leadership, it is occasionally used to describe someone who is stubbornly individualistic or refuses to follow standard procedures. It is a more sophisticated, literary expression that is rarely used in casual, everyday speech.
Examples
keoi5 fan6 jan4 zung1 ji3 zi6 ngo5 zok3 gu2 seng4 jat6 nam2 maai4 di1 san1 kei4 zyu2 ji3
佢份人鍾意自我作古，成日諗埋啲新奇主意。
He likes to be a pioneer, always coming up with novel ideas.
nei5 sai2 mat1 jat1 ding6 jiu3 gan1 kwai1 geoi2 jau5 si4 zi6 ngo5 zok3 gu2 dou1 m4 co3 gaa4
你使乜一定要跟規矩？有時自我作古都唔錯㗎。
Why must you follow the rules? Sometimes being unconventional is not bad at all.
Related words
Common phrases
jung5 jyu1 zi6 ngo5 zok3 gu2
勇於自我作古
brave enough to be a pioneer
zi6 ngo5 zok3 gu2 ge3 zing1 san4
自我作古嘅精神
the spirit of being a pioneer
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a purely positive term for innovation, but it can carry a slightly negative connotation of being overly eccentric or disregarding necessary conventions depending on the context.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
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.
