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Jyutpingfaat3 fan5 tou4 koeng4
Yalefaat fáhn tòuh kèuhng
Definition
To make a determined effort to make oneself or one's country strong.
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How it's used
This idiom carries a sense of turning a setback or a period of failure into a source of motivation. It is often used when someone has been lazy or unsuccessful and suddenly decides to change their attitude to achieve success. Unlike simple phrases for working hard, it implies a deliberate, intense effort to overcome a specific weakness or past shortcoming.
Examples
He decided to work hard to do well on the exam.
If you don't start working hard now, how will you catch up to them?
Related words
Common phrases
to resolve to work hard to become strong
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general way to say someone is studying hard, but it specifically implies a transformation from a state of stagnation or failure to one of active improvement.
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.
