baak3 jan2 sing4 gam1百忍成金

Jyutpingbaak3 jan2 sing4 gam1

Yalebaak yán sìhng gām

Definition

Patience is a virtue; forbearance is a highly valuable quality.

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How it's used

This idiom is used to encourage someone to endure hardship or provocation in the belief that it will eventually lead to a positive outcome. It carries a slightly formal or moralistic tone, often used by older generations to advise younger people to stay calm and composed. Unlike casual slang, it is typically employed in serious discussions about character development or conflict resolution.

Examples

zou6做jan4人jiu3要sik1識baak3百jan2忍sing4成gam1金，m4唔hou2好gam3咁faai3快faat3發pei4脾hei3氣。

You need to learn that patience is a virtue; don't lose your temper so quickly.

seoi1雖jin4然hou2好wai2委wat1屈，daan6但keoi5佢seon3信baak3百jan2忍sing4成gam1金，jat1一zik6直jan2忍lok6落heoi3去。

Even though he felt wronged, he believed that patience would pay off and kept enduring it.

Common phrases

hok6學sik1識baak3百jan2忍sing4成gam1金

learn the value of patience

seon3信fung6奉baak3百jan2忍sing4成gam1金

believe in the virtue of patience

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal instruction to be silent or passive, but it specifically emphasizes the strategic value of patience in achieving a goal. It is not a common phrase for everyday small talk and can sound overly didactic if used in trivial situations.