leon4 lok6淪落沦落
Jyutpingleon4 lok6
Yalelèuhn lohk
Definition
To fall into ruin; to end up in a much worse situation or state.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Focuses on a significant decline in social status or living conditions, often implying a sense of tragedy or pity. It is almost exclusively used to describe a downward spiral from a previously comfortable or respectable position. The term carries a heavy emotional weight and is rarely used for minor setbacks.
Examples
His business failed, and he ended up having to sleep on the street.
How did you end up in such a bad situation that you have to do this job?
Related words
Common phrases
reduced to the point of
to be forced into prostitution
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple changes in circumstances or minor career shifts. It implies a total loss of dignity or a desperate state of affairs, so using it for trivial matters sounds overly dramatic or mocking.
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.
