wai6 jan4 zok3 gaa3為人作嫁为人作嫁

Jyutpingwai6 jan4 zok3 gaa3

Yalewaih yàhn jok ga

Definition

To work hard or make sacrifices for others' benefit rather than one's own.

writtenother

How it's used

Originating from a poem by Qin Tao-yu, this idiom describes the irony of someone working hard to prepare a wedding dress for another person to wear. It carries a strong sense of self-sacrifice that is ultimately unrewarded or even exploited. Use it when someone is being taken advantage of or is putting in effort that only benefits a third party.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日wai6為jan4人zok3作gaa3嫁，zeoi3最hau6後zi6自gei2己me1乜dou1都mou5冇。

He is always doing things for others, but ends up with nothing for himself.

nei5你gam3咁joeng2樣bong1幫keoi5佢，m4唔tung1通soeng2想wai6為jan4人zok3作gaa3嫁me1咩？

You are helping him like this, do you really want to do all the work for someone else's benefit?

Common phrases

san1辛fu2苦wai6為jan4人zok3作gaa3嫁

to toil for others' benefit

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe simple acts of kindness or volunteering, as it specifically implies a negative outcome where the effort is wasted or stolen by others.