ng5 lou4 cat1 soeng1五癆七傷五痨七伤
Jyutpingng5 lou4 cat1 soeng1
Yaleńgh lòuh chāt sēung
Definition
Plagued with illnesses; in extremely poor health or physically battered.
colloquialhealthdescriptions
How it's used
Originating from traditional Chinese medicine, this idiom describes a state of chronic exhaustion or severe physical deterioration. It is frequently used in a hyperbolic sense to describe someone who looks completely burnt out or physically broken after a period of intense stress or overwork. While it sounds clinical, it is commonly used in casual conversation to complain about one's own health after a long week.
Examples
He stays up late all the time, ending up in a terrible state of health.
After finishing this job, I really feel physically wrecked.
Related words
Common phrases
to end up in a wrecked state of health
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a specific, acute illness like a cold or a broken bone. It specifically implies a systemic, long-term decline in health caused by lifestyle choices or excessive strain.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
