maan5 zit3晚節晚节

Jyutpingmaan5 zit3

Yalemáahn jit

Definition

Integrity, moral character, or conduct in one's later years.

neutralpeopledescriptions

How it's used

Refers specifically to the moral standing or reputation of an elderly person, often implying that they have maintained their principles throughout their life. It is almost exclusively used in the context of someone who has lived a long, respectable life and is now at risk of doing something that would ruin that legacy. The term carries a heavy, serious tone and is rarely used in casual, lighthearted conversation.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成sai3世jan4人dou1都hou2好zing3正zik6直，zan1真hai6係bou2保zyu6住maan5晚zit3節。

He has been upright his whole life and really maintained his integrity in his later years.

zou6做jan4人zeoi3最gan2緊jiu3要hai6係m4唔hou2好maan5晚zit3節bat1不bou2保aa4呀。

The most important thing in life is not to lose one's integrity in one's later years.

Common phrases

maan5晚zit3節bat1不bou2保

to lose one's integrity in one's later years

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe the general integrity of a young person, as it is strictly reserved for the later stages of life. It is also almost always used in the negative form,晚節不保, to describe a situation where someone fails to uphold their reputation at the end.