coeng4 ci2 ji5 wong5長此以往长此以往

Jyutpingcoeng4 ci2 ji5 wong5

Yalechèuhng chí yíh wóhng

Definition

If things continue this way; if this goes on for a long time.

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How it's used

Functions as a formal idiom used to warn about the negative consequences of maintaining a current, unsustainable situation. Despite its literary roots, it is frequently used in spoken Cantonese to add weight and gravity to a prediction of failure or decline. It almost always precedes a clause describing an undesirable outcome.

Examples

coeng4長ci2此ji5以wong5往，gung1公si1司jat1一ding6定wui5會zap1執lap1笠。

If things continue this way, the company will definitely go out of business.

coeng4長ci2此ji5以wong5往，nei5你san1身tai2體dim2點joeng2樣ngaai4捱dak1得zyu6住aa4呀？

If things continue this way, how can your body hold up?

Common phrases

coeng4長ci2此ji5以wong5往，hau6後gwo2果ham1堪jyu4虞

If things continue this way, the consequences will be dire.

Common mistake

Avoid using this in casual, positive contexts, as it almost exclusively introduces a negative prediction. Learners sometimes mistakenly use it to mean 'in the long run' for neutral or positive situations, but it carries a distinct sense of impending trouble.