sei2 zou6 laan6 zou6死做爛做死做烂做

Jyutpingsei2 zou6 laan6 zou6

Yaleséi jouh laahn jouh

動詞

Definition

To work extremely hard, slaving away without flexibility or smart strategy.

colloquialworkdaily actions

How it's used

This expression carries a strong sense of disapproval or pity, implying that the effort being put in is excessive, unrewarding, or lacking in strategy. It is often used to describe someone who is stuck in a cycle of exhausting labor without seeing any real progress or improvement in their situation. The structure emphasizes the repetitive and relentless nature of the work.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日sei2死zou6做laan6爛zou6做，san1身tai2體dim2點ngaai4捱dak1得zyu6住aa4呀？

He works himself to the bone all the time, how can his body take it?

Common phrases

sei2死zou6做laan6爛zou6做dou1都hai6係mou5冇cin2錢

working yourself to death but still having no money

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a positive term meaning hard-working, but it is actually negative. It suggests a lack of efficiency or a failure to balance work with health, rather than just diligence.