sing3 baai6 naai5 bing1 gaa1 soeng4 si6勝敗乃兵家常事胜败乃兵家常事
Jyutpingsing3 baai6 naai5 bing1 gaa1 soeng4 si6
Yalesing baaih náaih bīng gā sèuhng sih
Definition
Victory and defeat are both common in battle; win some, lose some.
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How it's used
This idiom is frequently used to console someone who has experienced a setback or failure in a competitive or high stakes environment. While it originates from military strategy, it is now applied broadly to sports, business, or even personal endeavors to encourage resilience. It carries a tone of philosophical acceptance and perspective.
Examples
Victory and defeat are common in life, try harder next time.
It does not matter if you lost the game, winning and losing are just part of the process.
Related words
Common phrases
a common occurrence in military affairs
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal military term, but it is almost exclusively used metaphorically in modern conversation. Avoid using it in extremely casual or trivial situations, as it can sound overly formal or dramatic for minor inconveniences.
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.
