baat3 zi6 saang1 dak1 zeng3八字生得正
Jyutpingbaat3 zi6 saang1 dak1 zeng3
Yalebaat jih sāang dāk jeng
Definition
To be born lucky or born under a lucky star; to have a smooth and fortunate life.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Refers to the traditional Chinese belief in fate determined by the exact time and date of birth. It is often used with a slight hint of envy or cynicism when someone achieves success without apparent struggle. The phrase implies that the person's good fortune is innate rather than earned through hard work.
Examples
They are truly born under a lucky star, everything they do goes so smoothly.
Do you think they rely on talent? Actually, they were just born under a lucky star.
Related words
Common phrases
born under a lucky star
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being lucky in a specific moment, as it refers to a person's overall life destiny or inherent good fortune. It is not used to describe a single lucky event like winning a small prize.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
