seoi1 baai6 jau4 wing4雖敗猶榮虽败犹荣
Jyutpingseoi1 baai6 jau4 wing4
Yalesēui baaih yàuh wìhng
Definition
To be defeated but still remain honorable; to feel proud despite losing.
neutraldescriptionssports
How it's used
This idiom is frequently used in sports reporting or competitive contexts to praise a team or individual who lost but performed exceptionally well. It shifts the focus from the final score to the effort and spirit demonstrated during the struggle. It carries a sense of dignity that transcends the outcome of the event.
Examples
They played with honor despite the loss, and the whole crowd applauded.
seoi1雖jin4然syu1輸zo2咗bei2比coi3賽，daan6但hai6係keoi5佢dei6哋biu2表jin6現ceot1出lai4嚟go2嗰zung3種dau3鬥zi3志，zan1真hai6係seoi1雖baai6敗jau4猶wing4榮。
Although they lost the match, the fighting spirit they showed was truly honorable in defeat.
Common phrases
the spirit of honorable defeat
Grammar color guide
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Adverb
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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.
