laan6 nai4 fu4 m4 soeng5 bek3爛泥扶唔上壁烂泥扶唔上壁
Jyutpinglaan6 nai4 fu4 m4 soeng5 bek3
Yalelaahn nàih fùh m̀h séuhng bek
Definition
One who is unwilling or unable to improve oneself even with help; a hopeless case.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of frustration and hopelessness regarding someone's lack of ambition or inherent inability to progress. It is often used to justify giving up on someone after repeated failed attempts to support or mentor them. The imagery of mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall highlights the futility of trying to build something out of poor quality material.
Examples
He is truly a lost cause; no matter how you teach him, it is useless.
You still want to help him? He is simply beyond saving.
Related words
Common phrases
a lost cause
Common mistake
Avoid using this phrase in professional or formal settings, as it is highly critical and can be perceived as an insult to someone's character or intelligence. It is strictly for informal, private conversations where you are venting about someone's lack of improvement.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
