maai4 sau2 daa2 saam1 gaang1埋手打三更

Jyutpingmaai4 sau2 daa2 saam1 gaang1

Yalemàaih sáu dá sāam gāang

Definition

To do something completely wrong from the very beginning.

colloquialdaily actions

How it's used

This idiom draws on the imagery of a night watchman starting their shift incorrectly, implying a fundamental error made at the very inception of a task. It is used to criticize someone for failing to follow proper procedure or logic right from the start, which inevitably leads to a poor outcome. It carries a slightly critical or frustrated tone, often used when someone has to redo work because of an initial mistake.

Examples

nei5你jat1一hoi1開ci2始zau6就maai4埋sau2手daa2打saam1三gaang1更，dim2點joeng2樣gaau2搞dak1得dim6掂aa4呀？

You messed it up from the very start, how are you going to fix it?

keoi5佢seng4成gin6件si6事dou1都hai6係maai4埋sau2手daa1打saam1三gaang1更，naan4難gwaai3怪wui2會sat1失baai6敗。

He did the whole thing wrong from the beginning, no wonder it failed.

Common phrases

jat1一hoi1開ci2始maai4埋sau2手daa2打saam1三gaang1更

to start off on the wrong foot

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal reference to time or work shifts, but it is strictly used as a metaphor for starting a project or process incorrectly. It is not used to describe someone being late or working at the wrong time of day.