gung1 kwai1 jat1 gwai6功虧一簣功亏一篑
Jyutpinggung1 kwai1 jat1 gwai6
Yalegūng kwāi yāt gwaih
Definition
To fail at the very last step or by a narrow margin.
neutralother
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of regret and frustration because the failure happens right at the finish line. It is a formal idiom often used in serious contexts or when reflecting on a significant project that collapsed unexpectedly. While it describes a failure, it implies that the effort put in beforehand was substantial and the goal was nearly within reach.
Examples
It was almost finished, but it failed at the very last step.
Don't let all your hard work go to waste at the final moment.
Related words
Common phrases
to fail at the very last moment
Common mistake
Often misused by learners to describe any kind of failure, but it specifically requires that the goal was almost achieved. It is not appropriate for situations where you failed early on or never really got close to succeeding.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
