jan4 mou4 jyun5 leoi6 ，bit1 jau5 gan6 jau1人無遠慮，必有近憂人无远虑，必有近忧
Jyutpingjan4 mou4 jyun5 leoi6 ，bit1 jau5 gan6 jau1
Yaleyàhn mòuh yúhn leuih ，bīt yáuh gahn yāu
Definition
If one does not plan for the long term, trouble will follow in the near future.
neutralother
How it's used
This classical idiom is frequently cited by older generations in Hong Kong to advise younger people on the importance of long-term planning. It carries a didactic tone and is often used as a standalone warning to someone who is being too shortsighted or impulsive. While it originates from classical Chinese, it is fully integrated into spoken Cantonese and is understood by all native speakers.
Examples
jan4人mou4無jyun5遠leoi6慮，bit1必jau5有gan6近jau1憂，nei5你zan1真hai6係jiu3要nam2諗haa5下mei6未loi4來dim2點joeng2樣faat3發zin2展。
If you don't plan ahead, you'll face immediate trouble; you really need to think about your future development.
Related words
Grammar color guide
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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.
