sou3 baa2 sing1掃把星扫把星
Jyutpingsou3 baa2 sing1
Yalesou bá sīng
Definition
A comet, or a person who brings bad luck.
- literarycomet
- figurativea person who brings bad luck; a jinx
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Calling someone a 掃把星 is a harsh personal attack that implies the person is a walking disaster who ruins everything they touch. While it originates from the astronomical belief that comets were omens of war or famine, it is now used almost exclusively to blame individuals for collective misfortune. It carries a much stronger, more superstitious weight than simply calling someone unlucky or a troublemaker.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is such a jinx, he brings trouble wherever he goes.
Related words
Common phrases
a total jinx
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is just clumsy or makes minor mistakes. It specifically targets people perceived as having a malevolent influence on the luck of those around them.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
