wai4 cau3 maan6 nin4遺臭萬年遗臭万年
Jyutpingwai4 cau3 maan6 nin4
Yalewàih chau maahn nìhn
Definition
To leave a bad name in history; to go down in history as a byword for infamy.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom is reserved for describing people who have committed truly heinous acts, such as betrayal of one's country or mass murder. It carries a heavy, formal weight and is rarely used in casual conversation unless one is being dramatic or sarcastic. It serves as the ultimate moral condemnation in the Chinese cultural context.
Examples
He has done so many bad things, he will truly be infamous for ages.
Related words
Common phrases
destined to be infamous for eternity
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being famous or well known. It specifically refers to a negative, shameful legacy, so using it to describe a controversial but neutral figure can sound unintentionally harsh or confusing.
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.
