zuk1 wun4 jau5 ji5屬垣有耳属垣有耳

Jyutpingzuk1 wun4 jau5 ji5

Yalejūk wùhn yáuh yíh

Definition

Walls have ears; there may be people listening in secret.

colloquialcommunicationother

How it's used

This idiom is a direct translation of the concept that walls are not soundproof and carry sound to eavesdroppers. It is used to warn someone to lower their voice when discussing private matters in a public or semi-private space. While it sounds formal, it is frequently used in casual conversation to add a slightly dramatic or cautionary tone to a warning.

Examples

gong2講je5嘢sai3細seng1聲di1啲，siu2小sam1心zuk1屬wun4垣jau5有ji5耳aa4呀。

Speak quieter, be careful that the walls have ears.

nei1呢dou6度zuk1屬wun4垣jau5有ji5耳，m4唔hou2好lyun6亂gam3咁gong2講bei3秘mat6密。

The walls have ears here, don't just blurt out secrets.

Common phrases

siu2小sam1心zuk1屬wun4垣jau5有ji5耳

be careful, the walls have ears

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of architecture, but it is strictly used as a warning about privacy and eavesdropping. Do not use it to describe the actual physical thickness of a wall.