jan4 zi3 ji6 zeon6仁至義盡仁至义尽
Jyutpingjan4 zi3 ji6 zeon6
Yaleyàhn ji yih jeuhn
Definition
To have done one's utmost in benevolence and duty, leaving nothing more that can be done.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom is typically used when someone has reached the limit of their patience or resources after trying to help someone who remains ungrateful or difficult. It carries a sense of finality, signaling that the speaker has fulfilled all moral obligations and is no longer responsible for the outcome. It is often invoked to justify stopping further assistance.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
to have done everything possible
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say 'I tried my best', but it implies a moral weight and a sense of being wronged or unappreciated by the other party. Using it in a casual situation where you simply failed at a task can sound overly dramatic or self-righteous.
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.
