zou6 coeng4 hou2 hei3做場好戲做场好戏
Jyutpingzou6 coeng4 hou2 hei3
Yalejouh chèuhng hóu hei
Definition
To put on a show or act to deceive someone, or to maintain appearances for others.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
This phrase carries a strong sense of insincerity or manipulation, often implying that the person is performing a calculated act to achieve a specific goal. It is frequently used to describe situations where someone is pretending to be something they are not, or staging an event to mislead others. The inclusion of 好 adds a layer of sarcasm, suggesting the performance is elaborate or convincing.
Examples
That couple is putting on a show to deceive everyone.
Do you really need to put on an act for the boss?
Related words
Common phrases
deliberately put on a show
put on an act to cheat people
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal theatrical performance. It is almost exclusively used in a negative or cynical context to describe social deception rather than artistic acting.
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.
