jau5 zou2 zi1 mou5 hat1 ji1有早知，冇乞兒有早知，冇乞儿

Jyutpingjau5 zou2 zi1 mou5 hat1 ji1

Yaleyáuh jóu jī móuh hāt yī

Definition

If one had known in advance, one would not have made such a mistake or ended up in a bad situation.

colloquialother

How it's used

This proverb functions as a philosophical resignation to the fact that humans lack foresight. It is frequently invoked to comfort someone who is dwelling on a past mistake or a missed opportunity. The literal translation suggests that if people could predict the future, no one would ever end up destitute, as they would have avoided all poor financial or life decisions.

Examples

zou2早zi1知hai6係gam3咁zau6就m4唔maai5買laa1啦，zan1真hai6係jau5有zou2早zi1知，mou5冇hat1乞ji1兒。

If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have bought it; hindsight is always 20/20.

nei5你seng4成jat6日hau6後fui3悔dou1都mou5冇jung6用，jau5有zou2早zi1知，mou5冇hat1乞ji1兒㗎gaa3嘛。

It is useless to keep regretting it; you can't predict the future after all.

Common phrases

jau5有zou2早zi1知

if one had known in advance

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to offer genuine advice or to criticize someone's past actions, as it can sound dismissive or cold. It is intended to be a closing remark to stop a cycle of rumination rather than a tool for analysis.