ji6 naai1 meng6二奶命
Jyutpingji6 naai1 meng6
Yaleyih nāai mehng
Definition
The fate of always being second best or second-in-line, like a concubine.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Describes a person who consistently finishes in second place or plays a supporting role despite their best efforts. It carries a sense of fatalistic resignation rather than just bad luck. While it references historical concubinage, it is now used broadly to describe anyone who feels they are always the bridesmaid and never the bride.
Examples
She always says she is destined to be second best, always falling just short in everything.
Do you feel like you are destined to be the runner-up?
Related words
Common phrases
destined to be second-best
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe an actual mistress or concubine, as that would be offensive and inaccurate. It is strictly a metaphorical term for someone who feels perpetually overshadowed or second-best.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
