jip6孽
Jyutpingjip6
Yaleyihp
Definition
Sin, wrongdoing, or karmic evil; historically, a son born of a concubine.
- sin; wrongdoing; karmic evil; calamity
- archaica son born of a concubine
colloquialemotionother
How it's used
Refers primarily to the karmic consequences of one's misdeeds rather than just a simple mistake or crime. It carries a heavy, almost supernatural weight, often implying that current suffering is retribution for past actions. It is frequently used in the context of family or personal misfortune to explain why someone is experiencing bad luck.
Examples
He is always causing trouble, it must be a sin from a past life.
Don't commit sins in life, try to accumulate some good karma.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 罪, which is a more general term for a crime or legal offense. 孽 specifically implies a moral or spiritual debt that persists over time.
Grammar color guide
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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).
