gong1 long4 coi4 zeon6江郎才盡江郎才尽
Jyutpinggong1 long4 coi4 zeon6
Yalegōng lòhng chòih jeuhn
Definition
To have exhausted one's creativity, talent, or ideas.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom originates from a story about a poet whose writing style declined significantly as he aged. It is used to describe a professional or creative person who has lost their previous spark or ability to innovate. While it sounds quite formal, it is frequently used in casual conversation to critique artists, writers, or even colleagues who seem stuck in a rut.
Examples
The songs he wrote recently seem to show a lack of creativity, with no surprises.
Do you feel like you have run out of ideas, which is why you cannot write anything?
Related words
Common phrases
to feel like one has run out of ideas
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being tired or lazy, but it specifically refers to the loss of creative talent or inspiration. It is not used to describe physical exhaustion or a simple lack of motivation.
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.
