mou5 ceot1 sik1冇出息

Jyutpingmou5 ceot1 sik1

Yalemóuh chēut sīk

Definition

To have no future prospects, ambition, or potential for success.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Labeling someone as 冇出息 carries a strong sense of disappointment, often used by older generations to criticize younger people who lack drive or career prospects. It is a heavy, judgmental term that implies a failure to meet societal expectations of success or stability. Using it can easily cause offense or start an argument.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日daa2打gei1機m4唔zou6做je5嘢，zan1真hai6係hou2好mou2冇ceot1出sik1息。

He plays games all day and does nothing; he is really a loser.

nei5你gam3咁hau6後saang1生，dim2點gaai2解wui2會gok3覺dak1得zi6自gei2己mou5冇ceot1出sik1息aa1呀？

You are so young, why do you feel like you have no future?

Common phrases

zan1真hai6係mou5冇ceot1出sik1息

really a loser

gok3覺dak1得zi6自gei2己mou5冇ceot1出sik1息

to feel like a failure

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 冇用, which is a broader term for being useless or ineffective at a specific task. 冇出息 specifically targets a person's lack of ambition or long term potential in life.