- Whether you’re talking about best friends or your worst frenemies, there are unique phrases you can use
- Have you ever had to ‘got-zek’ with a pal?
What memories do you share with your best friends?A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Aren’t you grateful for the wonderful people surrounding you? Good friendships nurture life – you lift each other up, know each other well and become as close as family. Having someone around who shares your values is such a blessing.
However, you only learn who your true friends are in times of trouble and sadness. Be careful when you make friends, because sometimes people aren’t who they say they are, and you often won’t realise this until you really need them. Thankfully, you can figure out which people are worth keeping in your life by using the phrases below.
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Slang:
割席 - got3 zik6 (got-zek): “Cut mat”
Meaning: Putting an end to a relationship when two people share different values and cannot get along.
In English: sever a friendship; cut off a friend completely
Example: Tiffany decided to got-zek with Mark because their political views were too different, and they couldn’t come to a compromise.
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心照 - sam1 ziu3 (sum-jiu): “Heart shine”
Meaning: A person who understands you so well that you don’t need to say your thoughts out loud, as if your minds are in sync.
In English: to know someone from the inside out
Example: I knew you wanted to try this new restaurant, so I booked a table already, sum-jiu!
Idioms of the week:
糖黐豆 - tong4 ci1 dau6 (tong-chi-dau): “Sugar sticky beans”
Meaning: Two people who have become very close. It is used to describe friends who are inseparable, similar to beans that are stuck together with sugar, and can’t be torn apart.
In English: thick as thieves; chummy; ride or die
Example: Angela and Christie became tong-chi-dau after being roommates for a year.
Is your heart in the right place?
人前人後兩個樣 - jan4 cin4 jan4 hau6 loeng5 go3 joeng6 (yun-chin-yun-hau-leung-gor-yeung): “People front, people back, two faces”
Meaning: Someone who is insincere or who acts one way in certain situations, then acts in an opposite manner in others
In English: two-faced
Example: Jessica is so yun-chin-yun-hau leung-gor-yeun. She pretends to be your friend but starts calling you names as soon as you leave the room.