coi3 jung1 sat1 maa5塞翁失馬塞翁失马
Jyutpingcoi3 jung1 sat1 maa5
Yalechoi yūng sāt máh
Definition
lit. the old man lost his horse, but it all turned out for the best (idiom); it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- 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.
Learn more on the YumCha blog
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Dictionary data from CC-Canto and CC-CEDICT, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.