sang1 bat1 fung4 si4生不逢時生不逢时
Definition
Born at the wrong time; born in an unfortunate era.
How it's used
This idiom carries a sense of resignation or self-pity, often used by people to explain away their lack of success. It implies that one has great talent or potential but the current social or economic environment simply does not provide the right opportunities to shine. It is a formal expression that is frequently used in casual conversation to sound slightly more dramatic or philosophical.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal comment on historical timing, but it is almost exclusively used as an excuse for personal failure or professional stagnation. Avoid using it to describe actual historical events or objective circumstances, as it focuses on the speaker's subjective feeling of being mismatched with their time.
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.
