jat1 si6 mou4 sing4一事無成一事无成

Jyutpingjat1 si6 mou4 sing4

Yaleyāt sih mòuh sìhng

語句Uncommon

Definition

To accomplish nothing; to achieve absolutely no success in any endeavour.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom carries a heavy, often self-deprecating or critical tone, implying a wasted life or a lack of progress over a long period. It is rarely used to describe a temporary setback, but rather a persistent state of failure. It is common to hear it used with the particle 總係 to emphasize the repetitive nature of the lack of success.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成sai3世jan4人dou1都hai6係jat1一si6事mou4無sing4成，hou2好caam2慘。

He has achieved nothing his whole life, it is so miserable.

nei5你m4唔soeng2想zoeng1將loi4來jat1一si6事mou4無sing4成，zau6就jiu3要nou5努lik6力laa3喇。

If you do not want to end up with no accomplishments in the future, you must work hard.

Common phrases

zung1終san1身jat1一si6事mou4無sing4成

to achieve nothing throughout one's life

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say someone failed at a specific task, but it is much stronger and usually refers to a person's overall life path or career trajectory rather than a single event.