meng6 seoi2命水
Jyutpingmeng6 seoi2
Yalemehng séui
Definition
Fate, destiny, or fortune, especially perceived as being predetermined and beyond one's control.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a sense of fatalism, often implying that one's circumstances are beyond personal control. It is frequently used to explain why someone succeeds effortlessly or suffers misfortune despite their best efforts. While it shares meaning with 命運, it feels more colloquial and personal, focusing on the quality of one's life path rather than just the abstract concept of destiny.
Examples
He is really lucky; everything he does goes smoothly.
Do you think a person's fate is predetermined?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 命運, which is a more formal and neutral term. 命水 is specifically used when discussing whether someone is blessed with good fortune or cursed with bad luck in their life journey.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
