bui6 si4背時背时
Jyutpingbui6 si4
Yalebuih sìh
Definition
Unlucky, out of luck, or behind the times.
- unlucky; down on one's luck
- behind the times; old-fashioned
colloquialemotion
How it's used
Describes a state of persistent misfortune or a feeling of being cursed by circumstances. It is often used to express self-pity or to console someone who has experienced a string of failures. Unlike formal terms for bad luck, this carries a slightly weary or resigned tone.
Examples
I have been really unlucky lately, everything I do goes wrong.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with being physically behind someone or literally carrying something on one's back, as the character 背 here refers to the sense of being contrary or against one's favor.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
