baai6 bing1 zit3 zoeng3敗兵折將败兵折将
Jyutpingbaai6 bing1 zit3 zoeng3
Yalebaaih bīng jit jeung
Definition
To suffer a major defeat resulting in the loss of many soldiers and generals.
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How it's used
Carries a strong sense of dramatic failure, often used metaphorically to describe a team or project that has collapsed after a significant setback. While it originates from military contexts, it is frequently applied to business or sports to emphasize the severity of the loss. It implies not just losing, but losing key people or resources in the process.
Examples
We suffered a crushing defeat in this competition, it is really a pity.
They ended up in such a disastrous state, how can they still show their faces?
Related words
Common phrases
to end up in a state of disastrous defeat
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe minor setbacks or simple mistakes, as it implies a total or near-total collapse of a group or effort. It is a formal idiom and can sound overly dramatic if used in casual, low-stakes situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
