gin3 bou6 haang4 bou6見步行步见步行步
Jyutpinggin3 bou6 haang4 bou6
Yalegin bouh hàahng bouh
Definition
To take things as they come, dealing only with immediate problems instead of making long-term plans.
colloquialdaily actions
How it's used
This idiom carries a pragmatic, slightly resigned tone, often used when someone feels overwhelmed by uncertainty or a lack of resources. It implies a reactive strategy rather than a proactive one, focusing on immediate survival or resolution instead of long term strategy. It is frequently used in professional or personal contexts where external factors are beyond one's control.
Examples
The situation is chaotic right now, we just have to take things as they come.
How do you plan to handle this? Are you just going to play it by ear?
Related words
Common phrases
have no choice but to take things as they come
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive trait like being flexible or adaptable, but it frequently carries a negative connotation of being unprepared or lacking a clear plan.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
