hiu1 hang6僥倖侥幸
Jyutpinghiu1 hang6
Yalehīu hahng
Definition
Lucky; succeeding purely by luck or chance rather than skill or effort.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Often carries a slightly self deprecating or critical tone when someone achieves a result without putting in the necessary effort. It implies that the outcome is unstable and cannot be replicated through skill or hard work. Unlike general words for luck, this specifically highlights the absence of merit in a success.
Examples
Passing the exam this time was purely down to luck.
Related words
Common phrases
purely by chance
a mentality of relying on luck
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general luck, but it carries a specific nuance of undeserved or accidental success. It is not used to describe positive fortune in a general sense, such as winning a lottery or meeting a good friend.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- 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.
