jan4 zoi6 gong1 wu4 ，san1 bat1 jau4 gei2人在江湖，身不由己

Jyutpingjan4 zoi6 gong1 wu4 ，san1 bat1 jau4 gei2

Yaleyàhn joih gōng wùh ，sān bāt yàuh géi

Definition

Bound by one's circumstances; having no choice but to do things against one's own will.

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How it's used

This idiom is frequently used to justify compromises made in professional or social settings where one feels forced to act against their personal values. It carries a sense of resignation and fatalism, suggesting that the individual is merely a small part of a larger, uncontrollable system. It is often invoked when someone has to do something unpleasant to maintain their career or social standing.

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal description of being a traveler or a nomad, but it specifically refers to the constraints of social or professional life rather than physical location.