sat1 jip6失業失业
Jyutpingsat1 jip6
Yalesāt yihp
Definition
To lose one's job, to be unemployed, or to be out of work.
neutralworkmoney
How it's used
失業 carries a heavier, more negative weight than the more neutral or euphemistic 待業. It is used to describe the state of being without work, often implying a sense of urgency or personal hardship. While 待業 suggests a temporary period of waiting for the right opportunity, 失業 focuses directly on the loss of a previous position.
Examples
He has been unemployed for a long time and still cannot find a job.
How do you plan to manage your life after losing your job?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 失業 to describe someone who is simply between jobs by choice or waiting for a specific career move, as it implies a lack of employment that may be involuntary or concerning.
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.
