ng5 ng5 bo1五五波
Jyutpingng5 ng5 bo1
Yaleńgh ńgh bō
Definition
A fifty-fifty situation; an evenly matched contest or chance.
colloquialsportsdescriptions
How it's used
Originally derived from sports commentary where a ball is contested equally by two players, this term now describes any situation where the outcome is uncertain or the odds are perfectly balanced. It is frequently used to assess the likelihood of success in competitive scenarios, such as elections, business deals, or arguments. The term carries a sense of neutrality and objective assessment.
Examples
The two teams are so evenly matched today, it is basically a fifty-fifty game.
Do you think their chances of winning are fifty-fifty?
Related words
Common phrases
to end up in a fifty-fifty situation
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person's character or a physical object, as it specifically refers to the probability or the balance of power between two competing sides.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
