zo2 ji5 jap6 jau6 ji5 ceot1左耳入右耳出
Jyutpingzo2 ji5 jap6 jau6 ji5 ceot1
Yalejó yíh yahp yauh yíh chēut
Definition
To let something go in one ear and out the other; to completely ignore someone's advice or warnings.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe someone who is willfully inattentive or dismissive of advice. It carries a sense of frustration from the speaker, highlighting that the listener is not just forgetting the information, but actively choosing not to process it. It is frequently used in arguments between parents and children or teachers and students.
Examples
I've told you so many times, are you just letting it go in one ear and out the other?
He always ignores what I say and has no intention of changing.
Related words
Common phrases
to treat something as if it went in one ear and out the other
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who simply has a bad memory or is physically hard of hearing. It specifically implies a lack of respect or a stubborn refusal to listen to what is being said.
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.
