lin4 zung3 saam1 jyun4連中三元连中三元
Definition
To achieve a hat-trick of successes, such as scoring three goals in a soccer match or winning three consecutive honors.
- slangto score three goals in a single match; to score a hat-trick
- figurativeto achieve consecutive victories, successes, or awards
- historicalto place first in all three stages of the imperial civil service examinations
How it's used
Originally referring to the rare academic achievement of placing first in three consecutive imperial examinations, this idiom has been almost entirely repurposed in modern Cantonese to describe a hat-trick in football. It carries a sense of impressive, consecutive success that goes beyond a simple victory. While it can metaphorically describe other types of triple successes, using it outside of sports or competitive contexts can sound slightly archaic or overly dramatic.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe just any three successes, as it specifically implies a sequence of three identical or high-level achievements. It is not a general term for doing something three times.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
