ngaai4 saang1 ngaai4 sei2挨生挨死
Jyutpingngaai4 saang1 ngaai4 sei2
Yalengàaih sāang ngàaih séi
Definition
To work extremely hard and endure severe hardships.
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
This expression carries a strong sense of pity or frustration regarding someone's exhausting lifestyle. It is often used to describe people who sacrifice their health or well-being to make ends meet. It emphasizes the physical and mental toll of constant, unrewarding labor.
Examples
He works himself to the bone all the time, all for the sake of his family.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe working hard in a positive or ambitious sense, as it implies suffering and a lack of choice rather than productivity or success.
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.
