zyu1 pang4 gau2 jau5豬朋狗友猪朋狗友
Jyutpingzyu1 pang4 gau2 jau5
Yalejyū pàhng gáu yáuh
Definition
Fair-weather friends; bad company who only share good times but not hardships.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong moral judgment, implying that the people being referred to are not just bad influences but also unreliable in times of trouble. It is frequently used by parents or concerned friends to warn someone about their social circle. Unlike generic terms for friends, it specifically highlights a lack of substance or integrity in the relationship.
Measure word
baan1班bānExamples
Stop going out to party with those bad friends of yours.
He is always hanging out with a bad crowd, it is so frustrating.
Related words
Common phrases
to hang out with bad company
a group of bad friends
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe casual acquaintances or people you simply do not like. It specifically implies a group of people who encourage negative behaviors like laziness, gambling, or partying, rather than just someone you find annoying.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
