mou5 ni1 zi1 go1 zai2 coeng3冇呢支歌仔唱
Jyutpingmou5 ni1 zi1 go1 zai2 coeng3
Yalemóuh nī jī gō jái cheung
Definition
Something good is no longer possible or true due to a change of circumstances; those days are gone.
- figurativegood times are no longer possible due to a change of circumstances
- figurativea method used in the past no longer works
colloquialother
How it's used
This expression carries a slightly nostalgic or cynical tone, often used to dismiss the possibility of repeating past successes or favorable conditions. It functions as a set phrase to signal that the rules of the game have changed and one must accept the current, less ideal reality. It is frequently used when discussing economic shifts, social changes, or the loss of specific perks.
Examples
The market is so bad now, you want to find a good job? That's not happening anymore.
Is that kind of cheap lunch from before still available anywhere?
Related words
Common phrases
that is no longer an option
Common mistake
Learners often try to translate the phrase literally, which makes no sense to native speakers. Remember that it is a fixed idiom and cannot be modified; you cannot replace 歌仔 with other nouns like 戲 or 書.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
