kau4 jan4 dak1 jan4求仁得仁
Jyutpingkau4 jan4 dak1 jan4
Yalekàuh yàhn dāk yàhn
Definition
To get what one has been seeking; to have one's wish granted.
writtenother
How it's used
Originally a Confucian concept about achieving moral integrity, it is now frequently used with a slightly ironic or resigned tone. It often describes someone who insisted on a specific, sometimes difficult, outcome and finally achieved it, implying they must now accept the consequences of that choice. It carries a sense of finality regarding one's own decisions.
Examples
He finally quit his job to travel; he really got what he wanted.
Related words
Common phrases
the outcome of getting what one sought
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a purely positive expression of success, but it is frequently used to point out that someone has brought a situation upon themselves, even if the outcome is unpleasant.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
