geoi2 bou6 wai4 gaan1舉步維艱举步维艰

Jyutpinggeoi2 bou6 wai4 gaan1

Yalegéui bouh wàih gāan

語句

Definition

To have difficulty taking a step; also used figuratively to describe being in a difficult situation making it hard to progress.

to have difficulty taking a step; to walk with great difficulty
figurativeto be in a difficult situation, making it hard to make progress

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How it's used

Carries a formal and literary tone, often appearing in news reports or written commentary rather than casual daily speech. It functions as a set phrase to describe a state of stagnation or extreme hardship where any attempt to progress or change is met with significant obstacles. While it literally refers to the physical difficulty of walking, it is almost exclusively used metaphorically for business, political, or personal crises.

Examples

keoi5佢ji4而gaa1家ging1經zai3濟zong6狀fong3況zan1真hai6係geoi2舉bou6步wai4維gaan1艱。

His current financial situation is really difficult to move forward.

gung1公si1司coi4裁jyun4員zi1之hau6後，wan6運zok3作bin3變dak1得geoi2舉bou6步wai4維gaan1艱。

After the company layoffs, operations became extremely difficult.

Common phrases

ging1經zai3濟geoi2舉bou6步wai4維gaan1艱

economically struggling

cyu5處ging2境geoi2舉bou6步wai4維gaan1艱

in a difficult predicament

Common mistake

Learners often mistakenly use this to describe physical pain or a literal injury, but it is strictly reserved for abstract situations like financial trouble or organizational failure.