zi6 jyun4 kei4 syut3自圓其說自圆其说
Jyutpingzi6 jyun4 kei4 syut3
Yalejih yùhn kèih syut
Definition
To justify one's own argument or make one's statement consistent and self-explanatory.
neutralcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the act of covering up inconsistencies or logical gaps in a previous statement. It carries a negative connotation, implying that the person is being defensive or dishonest rather than genuinely explaining a misunderstanding. It is frequently used when someone is caught in a lie or a contradiction.
Examples
His story is inconsistent, how can he possibly justify himself?
No matter how he tries to patch up his story, nobody will believe him.
Related words
Common phrases
difficult to make one's statement consistent
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean simply explaining oneself or clarifying a point. It specifically implies that the initial statement was flawed or contradictory and the speaker is now struggling to make it sound plausible.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
