zok3 gaan2 zi6 bok3作繭自縛作茧自缚

Jyutpingzok3 gaan2 zi6 bok3

Yalejok gáan jih bok

動詞

Definition

To get caught in a trap of one's own making; to suffer from the consequences of one's own actions.

neutralemotiondescriptions

How it's used

This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone creates their own problems through their own actions or rigid thinking. It carries a sense of irony, highlighting that the person is the architect of their own suffering. While it is a four character idiom, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese to critique someone who is stuck in a self imposed cycle of worry or bad decisions.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日nam2諗maai4埋di1啲mou4無wai6謂je5嘢，gan1根bun2本hai6係zok3作gaan2繭zi6自bok3縛。

He is always overthinking useless things, he is just trapping himself.

nei5你m4唔hou2好zoi3再zok3作gaan2繭zi6自bok3縛laa1啦，fong3放dai1低gwo3過heoi3去sin1先ho2可ji5以cung4重san1新hoi1開ci2始。

Stop trapping yourself in your own mess, you can only start over if you let go of the past.

Common phrases

gan1根bun2本hai6係zok3作gaan2繭zi6自bok3縛

is simply trapping oneself

m4唔hou2好zok3作gaan2繭zi6自bok3縛

do not trap yourself

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a physical trap, but it is almost exclusively used for psychological or situational dilemmas. Do not use it to describe being physically stuck in a room or a literal snare.