gung1 baai6 seoi4 sing4功敗垂成功败垂成
Jyutpinggung1 baai6 seoi4 sing4
Yalegūng baaih sèuih sìhng
Definition
To fail on the verge of success; to fall short when victory is within reach.
writtenother
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of regret or frustration because the effort invested was almost entirely rewarded. It is a formal idiom often used in news reports or serious discussions to describe projects or political campaigns that collapse at the final hurdle. While it is a four character idiom, it fits naturally into spoken Cantonese sentences when emphasizing the tragedy of a near miss.
Examples
We were so close to winning, who knew we would fail at the last step.
Don't give up and fail now just because of a temporary setback.
Related words
Common phrases
lead to failure on the verge of success
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say failed, but it specifically requires the context of being on the verge of victory. Using it for a failure that happened early on or due to lack of effort sounds unnatural and overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
