gu1 zyu3 jat1 zaak6孤注一擲孤注一掷
Jyutpinggu1 zyu3 jat1 zaak6
Yalegū jyu yāt jaahk
Definition
To risk everything on a single bet; to go all in.
- to bet all one's money in a single wager
- figurativeto stake all of one's resources and efforts in a final, risky attempt
neutralmoneydaily actions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of desperation and high stakes, often used when someone has no other options left. It is frequently employed in business or gambling contexts to describe a final, decisive move. Unlike simply taking a risk, it implies committing every available resource to a single outcome.
Examples
He went all in and put all his savings into the investment.
Do you really have to risk everything on this one bet?
Related words
Common phrases
a decision to go all in
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a casual way to say taking a chance, but it is actually quite dramatic and serious. Using it for minor decisions, like choosing what to eat for lunch, sounds unnatural and overly intense.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
