waan6 dak1 waan6 sat1患得患失
Jyutpingwaan6 dak1 waan6 sat1
Yalewaahn dāk waahn sāt
Definition
To worry constantly about personal gains and losses, being overly anxious about success and failure.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
Describes a state of mind where someone is overly preoccupied with the potential loss of something they have or the failure to acquire something they want. It implies a lack of confidence or a fragile emotional state during competitive or high stakes situations. While it is a four character idiom, it is frequently used in casual speech to describe someone who is being unnecessarily neurotic or indecisive.
Examples
Don't be so anxious about the outcome, just do your best.
He is always worrying about gains and losses, which puts him under a lot of pressure.
Related words
Common phrases
to have an anxious mindset
don't be so anxious
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for simply being greedy or stingy, but it focuses specifically on the anxiety and mental instability caused by the fear of losing status, possessions, or opportunities rather than the desire for them.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
