bat1 lou4 ji4 wok6不勞而獲不劳而获
Jyutpingbat1 lou4 ji4 wok6
Yalebāt lòuh yìh wohk
Definition
To reap without sowing; to obtain rewards or results without putting in any effort.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation, often used to criticize someone for being lazy or seeking shortcuts. While it is a four character idiom, it fits naturally into spoken sentences by adding particles like 㗎 or 呀 to soften the tone or emphasize the speaker's disapproval.
Examples
Don't always think about reaping without sowing.
Related words
Common phrases
thinking of reaping without sowing
wanting to reap without sowing
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive concept like luck or a windfall, but it is almost exclusively used as a critique of someone's work ethic or attitude.
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.
