jan4 bat1 wai6 gei2 ，tin1 zyu1 dei6 mit6人不為己，天誅地滅人不为己，天诛地灭

Jyutpingjan4 bat1 wai6 gei2 ，tin1 zyu1 dei6 mit6

Yaleyàhn bāt waih géi ，tīn jyū deih miht

Definition

If a person does not look out for themselves, heaven and earth will destroy them; every man for himself.

colloquialpeopleother

How it's used

This phrase is a classic example of a moral justification used to excuse selfish or opportunistic behavior. It is rarely used in a serious, philosophical sense today, but rather as a cynical retort when someone is caught prioritizing their own interests at the expense of others. It carries a tone of defensive rationalization, suggesting that being selfish is not just a choice, but a survival necessity mandated by the universe.

Examples

keoi5佢waa6話jan4人bat1不wai6為gei2己，tin1天zyu1誅dei6地mit6滅，so2所ji5以sin1先aak3呃nei5你cin2錢。

He said that if you don't look after yourself, heaven and earth will destroy you, so that's why he cheated you out of your money.

nei5你m4唔hou2好seng4成jat6日waa6話jan4人bat1不wai6為gei2己，tin1天zyu1誅dei6地mit6滅，gam3咁joeng2樣hou2好zi6自si1私㗎。

Don't keep saying that if you don't look after yourself, heaven and earth will destroy you; that's really selfish.

Common phrases

zi6自si1私zi6自lei6利

selfish and self-interested

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a genuine moral teaching, but it is almost exclusively used to defend selfish actions. Using it in a professional or formal setting will make you sound like you are trying to justify unethical behavior.