soeng4 bei6 bat1 haai6常備不懈常备不懈

Jyutpingsoeng4 bei6 bat1 haai6

Yalesèuhng beih bāt haaih

Definition

To be always prepared and on the alert without letting your guard down.

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How it's used

This is a formal idiom that carries a sense of professional duty or serious readiness. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation, appearing more often in news reports, official statements, or when discussing emergency preparedness. Using it in a lighthearted context can sound overly dramatic or stiff.

Examples

siu1消fong4防jyun4員jiu3要soeng4常bei6備bat1不haai6懈，ceoi4隨si4時zeon2準bei6備gau3救fo2火。

Firefighters must always be on the alert and ready to fight fires at any time.

min6面deoi3對ni1呢go3個dat6突faat3發cing4情fong3況，ngo5我dei6哋jat1一ding6定jiu3要soeng4常bei6備bat1不haai6懈。

Facing this sudden situation, we must remain constantly vigilant.

Common phrases

bou2保ci4持soeng4常bei6備bat1不haai6懈

maintain constant vigilance

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a common verb phrase, but it functions as an adjective describing a state of readiness. Avoid using it to describe simple daily tasks like packing a bag for school, as it implies a level of gravity or strategic alertness.