該釘就釘，該鐵就鐵 (goi1 deng1 zau6 deng1 goi1 tit3 zau6 tit3) — there should be no ambiguity in Cantonese

goiˉ¹該dengˉ¹釘zauˍ₆就dengˉ¹釘，goiˉ¹該tit˗₃鐵zauˍ₆就tit˗₃鐵

简该钉就钉，该铁就铁

Mandarin Pinyin: gai1 ding1 jiu4 ding1 , gai1 tie3 jiu4 tie3

Meaning of 該釘就釘，該鐵就鐵

nounthere should be no ambiguity

idiomDo what should be done; handle matters according to their nature and necessity.

idiomDo what needs to be done; be decisive and act appropriately.

idiomDo what needs to be done; be decisive and fair; let justice prevail.

zauˍ₆就haiˍ₆係gam2,咁，goiˉ¹該dingˉ¹釘zauˍ₆就ding1,釘，goiˉ¹該tit˗₃鐵zauˍ₆就tit3.鐵。

That's just how it is, what needs to be nailed should be nailed, what needs to be riveted should be riveted.

keoiˏ₅佢waaˍ₆話goiˉ¹該dingˉ¹釘zauˍ₆就ding1,釘，goiˉ¹該tit˗₃鐵zauˍ₆就tit3.鐵。

He said, what needs to be nailed should be nailed, what needs to be riveted should be riveted.

gungˉ¹公siˍ₆事gungˉ¹公baan6,辦，goiˉ¹該dingˉ¹釘zauˍ₆就ding1,釘，goiˉ¹該tit˗₃鐵zauˍ₆就tit3.鐵。

Handle official business impartially; what needs to be nailed should be nailed, what needs to be riveted should be riveted.

mˎ₄唔houˊ²好leiˏ₅理gam˗₃咁do1,多，goiˉ¹該dingˉ¹釘zauˍ₆就ding1,釘，goiˉ¹該tit˗₃鐵zauˍ₆就tit3.鐵。

Don't overthink it; what needs to be nailed should be nailed, what needs to be riveted should be riveted.

keoiˏ₅佢zouˍ₆做je5,嘢，goiˉ¹該dingˉ¹釘zauˍ₆就ding1,釘，goiˉ¹該tit˗₃鐵zauˍ₆就tit3.鐵。

When he works, what needs to be nailed should be nailed, what needs to be riveted should be riveted.

Practice with spaced-repetition flashcards or follow our free structured Cantonese course.