zit3 ngoi6 sang1 zi1節外生枝节外生枝
Jyutpingzit3 ngoi6 sang1 zi1
Yalejit ngoih sāng jī
Definition
To raise new issues, obstacles, or complications that create extra trouble.
colloquialother
How it's used
Often used in professional or formal settings to warn against unnecessary actions that might derail a project. It carries a sense of frustration, implying that the person causing the issue is being counterproductive or meddlesome. It is frequently employed as a piece of advice to keep things simple and focused on the main goal.
Examples
Just get the matter done, don't create extra complications.
Why did you have to complicate things and cause everyone so much trouble?
Related words
Common phrases
to avoid creating unnecessary complications
don't make things more complicated
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use this to describe any minor problem, but it specifically refers to problems that arise because someone added an unnecessary step or changed the plan, rather than problems that happen naturally.
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.
