cin4 sai3 m4 sau1前世唔修
Jyutpingcin4 sai3 m4 sau1
Yalechìhn sai m̀h sāu
Definition
To suffer in this life due to a lack of virtue or bad deeds committed in one's past life.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Used primarily to express frustration or resignation when facing persistent bad luck or annoying people. It frames current misfortune as a karmic debt from a previous existence. It is a common way to vent about circumstances that feel completely out of one's control.
Examples
I must have done something wrong in my past life to end up with such a troublesome boss.
Did you commit some sin in your past life? Why are you always so unlucky?
Related words
Common phrases
to have bad karma from a past life
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe serious moral failings or actual criminal behavior, as it is meant for trivial annoyances or recurring bad luck. Using it in a formal setting or to describe someone's genuine suffering can sound insensitive or overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
