zyu2 cung5 mai5煮重米
Jyutpingzyu2 cung5 mai5
Yalejyú chúhng máih
Definition
To set someone up, kick them when they are down, or do things to cause them big trouble.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
The phrase relies on the pun between the word for rice and the slang term 大鑊, which means a big mess or a disaster. It specifically describes malicious actions taken to exacerbate an existing problem for someone else. It is almost exclusively used in negative contexts where someone is actively trying to sabotage or frame another person.
Examples
He is already miserable enough, do you really have to make things worse for him?
This matter wasn't that serious originally, it was him stirring up trouble behind their backs.
Related words
Common phrases
to sabotage someone behind their back
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply causing trouble. It implies a deliberate, often sneaky, act of making a bad situation significantly worse for someone who is already struggling.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
