baau1 zong6 baan2包撞板
Jyutpingbaau1 zong6 baan2
Yalebāau johng báan
Definition
Guaranteed to fail, run into trouble, or make a mistake.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
This expression uses the imagery of walking into a wooden board to describe hitting a wall or experiencing a setback. It is frequently used to warn someone that their current plan or approach is fundamentally flawed and will inevitably lead to trouble. The tone is often blunt or cautionary, reflecting a pragmatic view of poor decision making.
Examples
If you run your business like that, you are bound to fail.
He didn't listen to advice, and as a result, he really failed.
Related words
Common phrases
definitely destined to fail
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal physical action, but it is strictly metaphorical. It should not be used to describe actual physical accidents or bumping into furniture.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
