zuk1 jan4 tung3 goek3捉人痛腳捉人痛脚

Jyutpingzuk1 jan4 tung3 goek3

Yalejūk yàhn tung geuk

Definition

To seize on someone's weak points and use them against them; to exploit someone's shortcomings.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong sense of manipulation and predatory behavior, implying that someone is actively hunting for leverage. It is frequently used to describe office politics or interpersonal conflicts where one party seeks to gain an advantage by exposing another's past errors or personal flaws. The imagery of grabbing a foot suggests pinning someone down so they cannot escape or defend themselves.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日soeng2想zuk1捉jan4人tung3痛goek3腳，zan1真hai6係hou2好hat1乞jan4人zang1憎。

He always wants to exploit people's weaknesses, it's really annoying.

Related words

Common phrases

bei2俾jan4人zuk1捉tung3痛goek3腳

to have one's weaknesses exploited by others

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for simply pointing out a mistake, but it specifically implies a malicious intent to use that information as a weapon or for blackmail. It is not used for constructive criticism.