jau5 gam1 jat6有今日
Jyutpingjau5 gam1 jat6
Yaleyáuh gām yaht
Definition
To meet the fate one deserves, to have karma catch up to oneself, or to achieve success.
- to meet the fate one deserves; to get what is coming to oneself
- to achieve success; to have made it to where one is today
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of schadenfreude, specifically used when someone who has acted arrogantly or immorally finally faces the consequences of their actions. It is almost exclusively used in a confrontational or mocking manner to express that the person's current misfortune is well deserved. It is not used to describe positive achievements, despite the literal meaning of having a day of success.
Examples
You finally got what was coming to you, you deserve it!
He did so many bad things, he finally got his comeuppance.
Related words
Common phrases
You finally got what you deserved
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the positive sense of having a successful day or reaching a milestone, as the phrase is strictly reserved for negative retribution in modern spoken Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
