jan4 ding6 sing3 tin1人定勝天人定胜天
Jyutpingjan4 ding6 sing3 tin1
Yaleyàhn dihng sing tīn
Definition
Man can triumph over nature, overcome natural obstacles, and reshape the environment.
neutralother
How it's used
This idiom is often used as a rallying cry when facing seemingly impossible odds or natural disasters. It carries a strong sense of human agency and defiance against fate or environmental limitations. Unlike more passive outlooks, it emphasizes the power of collective effort and perseverance to reshape reality.
Examples
seoi1雖jin4然waan4環ging2境hou3好wu3惡lyut6劣，daan6但jan4人ding6定sing3勝tin1天，ngo5我dei6哋jat1一ding6定gaau2搞dak1得dim6掂。
Although the environment is harsh, man will triumph over nature, we will definitely manage.
Do you really believe man will triumph over nature? I feel many things are fated.
Related words
Common phrases
to believe that man will triumph over nature
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal scientific statement, but it is a philosophical expression of willpower. It is rarely used in casual small talk and can sound overly dramatic or grandiose if applied to minor inconveniences like a rainy day.
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.
