ok3 jan4 zi6 jau5 ok3 jan4 mo4惡人自有惡人磨恶人自有恶人磨
Definition
A ruthless or bullying person will eventually suffer at the hands of someone even more ruthless.
How it's used
This proverb serves as a form of karmic comfort when dealing with difficult or aggressive people. It implies that you do not need to intervene or seek revenge because the person will inevitably encounter someone more ruthless who will put them in their place. It is often used to encourage patience or to dismiss a troublemaker as someone who will eventually face their own consequence.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe a situation where you intend to intervene or fight back, as it implies a passive stance of waiting for fate to take its course. It is also not meant to be used as a direct insult to someone's face, but rather as a comment about them to a third party.
Grammar color guide
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.
