Quote
donal100
How to translate: there is a thin line between arrogance and confidence?
How to translate: Devils advocate?
Would people say 唱反调 in Cantonese?
狂妄同自信祗係一線之隔
[狂妄][同][自信][祗係][一線之隔]
[arrogance][and][confidence][is only][divided by a single line]
The phrase "be the devil's advocate " in straight translation is 「做惡魔的辯護人」which is not a common phrase in Chinese.
However, a Cantonese phrase 「做丑人講句」(be the bad guy and say this) does capture the essence of this expression.
Being an advocate for someone means " speak on someone's behalf " the advocate practically put himself in the role of the person whom he's speaking for.
Another interpretation of "be the devil's advocate" is " to speak fairly for someone who is considered a bad person by everyone else. " in this case, you can say : 「公道啲講句」( be more fairly speaking)- (**follow by a statement in that person's defense .)
「唱反調」( sing the opposite tunes) means - "state the contrary / take the opposite position" ( to someone's idea)
You are speaking for yourself in this case.