ngaai4 sang1 ngaai4 sei2捱生捱死挨生捱死

Jyutpingngaai4 sang1 ngaai4 sei2

Yalengàaih sāng ngàaih séi

Definition

To work extremely hard; to struggle through hardships using all of one's energy.

colloquialworkdaily actions

How it's used

Emphasizes the physical and mental toll of excessive labor, often implying that the effort is disproportionate to the reward. It carries a strong sense of martyrdom or exhaustion, suggesting that the person is sacrificing their well-being for a specific goal. Use this when you want to express sympathy for someone's struggle or to complain about your own workload.

Examples

keoi5佢jat6日jat6日喺hai2公gung1司si1捱ngaai4生saang1捱ngaai4死，sei2都dou1係hai6為wai6咗zo2供gung1樓。

He works his fingers to the bone every day just to pay off the mortgage.

nei5你sai2使mat1乜ngaai4捱saang1生ngaai4捱sei2死ze1啫，san1身tai2體zeoi3最gan2緊jiu3要aa4呀。

Why do you have to work yourself to death? Your health is the most important thing.

Common phrases

ngaai4捱saang1生ngaai4捱sei2死gam3咁zou6做

working like a dog

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with simply working hard, which is usually expressed as 勤力. This phrase specifically highlights the suffering and the extreme, potentially self-destructive nature of the work.