si6 gwo3 ging2 cin1事過境遷事过境迁
Jyutpingsi6 gwo3 ging2 cin1
Yalesih gwo gíng chīn
Definition
Things have changed with the passage of time.
writtentimedescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to express that time has moved on and circumstances have shifted, making past grievances or situations irrelevant. It carries a sense of resignation or advice to let go of the past. Unlike casual expressions, it has a slightly formal or literary tone that adds weight to the speaker's perspective on moving forward.
Examples
The matter is in the past, let's not bring it up again.
Things have changed, why are you still dwelling on it?
Related words
Common phrases
Time passes and things change, the scenery remains but the people are gone.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple description of change, but it specifically implies that the emotional or practical necessity of the past event has evaporated. Using it to describe minor, ongoing changes can sound overly dramatic or out of place.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
