sik6 dak1 haam4 jyu4 dai2 dak1 hot3食得鹹魚抵得渴食得咸鱼抵得渴
Jyutpingsik6 dak1 haam4 jyu4 dai2 dak1 hot3
Yalesihk dāk hàahm yùh dái dāk hot
Definition
To accept and bear the consequences of one's own decisions or actions.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
This proverb is a quintessential piece of Hong Kong wisdom used to shut down complaints about self-inflicted problems. It frames the situation as a fair trade where the initial choice, like eating salty food, inevitably leads to a specific, predictable discomfort. It is rarely used to offer sympathy, serving instead as a blunt reminder of personal responsibility.
Examples
You chose this job, so you have to accept the consequences.
He spent money recklessly and now has to deal with the outcome; who can help him?
Related words
Common phrases
to bear the consequences of one's own choice
Common mistake
Learners often try to use this in formal writing or professional settings, but it is strictly colloquial and can sound quite harsh or dismissive if used toward someone who is genuinely distressed.
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.
