hei3 sou3氣數气数
Jyutpinghei3 sou3
Yalehei sou
Definition
Fate, destiny, or the natural lifespan of a person, organization, or object.
colloquialother
How it's used
Often carries a fatalistic or slightly dramatic tone, suggesting that an outcome is inevitable and beyond human control. It is frequently used to describe the decline of organizations, businesses, or historical eras rather than just individual daily luck. The term implies a sense of finality, as if the allotted time or energy for a situation has run out.
Examples
It looks like his company's days are numbered.
Do you really think there is such a thing as fate?
Related words
Common phrases
one's days are numbered
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 運氣, which refers to general luck or fortune. 氣數 specifically implies a fixed, terminal limit to one's success or existence, whereas 運氣 can fluctuate and improve.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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).
