hak1 gwo3 gwai2黑過鬼黑过鬼
Jyutpinghak1 gwo3 gwai2
Yalehāk gwo gwái
Definition
Extremely unlucky; having terrible luck.
colloquialemotionslang
How it's used
This expression uses the imagery of ghosts being black to emphasize a streak of extreme misfortune. It is frequently used in casual settings to vent frustration when facing a series of unfortunate events, such as missing a bus, losing keys, and spilling coffee all in one morning. It carries a slightly humorous, self-deprecating tone rather than a sense of genuine tragedy.
Examples
I'm having such bad luck today, nothing is going right.
Related words
Common phrases
as unlucky as a ghost
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe serious life misfortunes or tragedies, as it is strictly reserved for trivial, everyday bad luck. Using it in a grave context can sound dismissive or insensitive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
