jat6 bok6 sai1 saan1日薄西山

Jyutpingjat6 bok6 sai1 saan1

Yaleyaht bohk sāi sāan

Definition

Nearing one's end; declining rapidly like the setting sun.

writtendescriptionstime

How it's used

Carries a strong metaphorical weight, often describing a business, an empire, or a person's career that is nearing its inevitable end. It implies a sense of irreversible decline rather than just a temporary slump. While it originates from imagery of the sunset, it is rarely used to describe the actual physical sun in modern speech.

Examples

le1呢gaan1間lou5老zi6字hou6號ji5已ging1經jat6日bok6薄sai1西saan1山laa3喇。

This old shop is already on its last legs.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得ni1呢go3個hong4行jip6業hai6係mai6咪jat6日bok6薄sai1西saan1山？

Do you think this industry is declining?

Common phrases

hong4行jip6業jat6日bok6薄sai1西saan1山

an industry in decline

gung1公si1司jat6日bok6薄sai1西saan1山

a company on its last legs

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe a simple, short-term problem or a minor setback, as it suggests a terminal state of decay. It is a formal idiom that can sound overly dramatic if applied to trivial situations like a phone battery running low.