si6 jyu5 jyun6 wai4事與願違事与愿违

Jyutpingsi6 jyu5 jyun6 wai4

Yalesih yúh yuhn wàih

語句Uncommon

Definition

Things turn out contrary to one's wishes or expectations.

neutralother

How it's used

This idiom is used to describe situations where the outcome is the exact opposite of what was intended or expected. It carries a sense of disappointment or irony, often implying that a well-intentioned action backfired. While it is a four-character idiom, it fits naturally into spoken Cantonese sentences without sounding overly formal or stiff.

Examples

bun2本loi4來soeng2想bong1幫keoi5佢，dim2點zi1知zeoi3最hau6後si6事jyu5與jyun6願wai4違。

I originally wanted to help him, but things turned out contrary to my wishes.

nei5你gam3咁joeng6樣zou6做，wui2會m4唔wui2會si6事jyu5與jyun6願wai4違㗎？

If you do it this way, won't things end up the opposite of what you want?

Common phrases

git3結gwo2果si6事jyu5與jyun6願wai4違

the result turned out to be contrary to one's wishes

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple verb phrase, but it functions as a descriptive state. Avoid using it to describe minor inconveniences or simple mistakes, as it is typically reserved for significant plans or major efforts that fail to achieve their goal.