hak1 gwo3 mak6 dau2黑過墨斗黑过墨斗
Jyutpinghak1 gwo3 mak6 dau2
Yalehāk gwo mahk dáu
Definition
To have extremely bad luck.
colloquialemotionslang
How it's used
Refers to the traditional carpenter's ink marker, which is a tool that leaves a permanent black mark. Being blacker than this tool implies that one's misfortune is deep, indelible, and inescapable. It is a common, slightly humorous way to vent frustration about a string of unfortunate events.
Examples
I am having such bad luck today, nothing is going my way.
Are you cursed with bad luck? Why do you never win the prize?
Related words
Common phrases
a day of terrible luck
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with being physically dirty or having a dark complexion. It is strictly used to describe a sequence of bad luck or a streak of unfortunate circumstances.
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.
