sai3 fung1 jat6 haa6世風日下世风日下
Jyutpingsai3 fung1 jat6 haa6
Yalesai fūng yaht hah
Definition
Public morals are degenerating day by day.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of disapproval and nostalgia for a perceived better past. It is typically used when observing a specific incident of bad behavior that the speaker believes reflects a broader societal decay. Because it sounds quite formal and heavy, it is often used with a touch of cynicism or dramatic flair in casual conversation.
Examples
People are so rude nowadays, public morals are really degenerating.
Why has society become like this? It is truly a decline in public morals.
Common phrases
simply a case of degenerating public morals
to lament the decline of public morals
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple description of a bad situation, but it specifically refers to a decline in moral standards or social ethics. It is not appropriate for describing minor inconveniences or purely physical problems like bad weather or traffic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
