sei2 sing3 bat1 goi2死性不改
Jyutpingsei2 sing3 bat1 goi2
Yaleséi sing bāt gói
Definition
Stubbornly clinging to one's bad habits; refusing to correct one's faults.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of exasperation and judgment, often used when someone repeats the same mistake despite repeated warnings or past consequences. It implies a deep-seated personality flaw rather than a simple error in judgment. It is most frequently directed at people who are perceived as incorrigible or intentionally resistant to self-improvement.
Examples
He really refuses to change his ways, no matter how much I tell him.
Related words
Common phrases
really refuse to change
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple mistake or a one-time failure. It is reserved for chronic, repeated behavior that the speaker finds frustratingly permanent.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
