naam4 zing1 bak1 tou2南征北討南征北讨

Jyutpingnaam4 zing1 bak1 tou2

Yalenàahm jīng bāk tóu

動詞

Definition

To have fought in countless battles; to have a long history of military campaigns.

neutralpeoplework

How it's used

Used metaphorically to describe someone who has accumulated extensive experience through a long and arduous career or life journey. While it carries a sense of respect for one's history of struggle, it is often used to explain why someone is now very capable or weary. It implies that the person has been through many different environments or challenges rather than just literal military combat.

Examples

keoi5佢hau6後saang1生go2嗰zan6陣naam4南zing1征bak1北tou2討，ji1依gaa1家zung1終jyu1於ho2可ji5以teoi3退jau1休laa3喇。

He fought in countless battles when he was young, and now he can finally retire.

nei5你ji5以wai4為keoi5佢hou2好hing1輕sung1鬆me1咩？keoi5佢dong1當nin4年naam4南zing1征bak1北tou2討sin1先jau5有gam1今jat6日ge3嘅sing4成zau6就㗎。

Do you think he had it easy? He only achieved what he has today because he fought through so much back then.

Common phrases

naam4南zing1征bak1北tou2討ge3嘅ging1經lik6歷

the experience of having fought in countless battles

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe a simple business trip or a short-term project. It implies a long, exhausting, and transformative period of life, so using it for minor experiences sounds overly dramatic or sarcastic.