bat1 hang6不幸
Jyutpingbat1 hang6
Yalebāt hahng
Definition
Unfortunate, unlucky, or regrettable.
neutraldescriptionsemotion
How it's used
While this term is standard in written Chinese, it is used in spoken Cantonese to describe serious, tragic, or heavy events rather than minor bad luck. For everyday situations like missing a bus or losing a coin, native speakers prefer using the more colloquial 唔好彩.
Examples
He had a very unfortunate accident.
Why did such an unfortunate thing happen to him?
Related words
Common phrases
unfortunate event
a silver lining in a misfortune
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe yourself having a bad day, as it sounds overly dramatic or formal. It is reserved for genuine misfortune or sad events.
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.
