wan6 zai6運滯运滞
Jyutpingwan6 zai6
Yalewahn jaih
Definition
To be experiencing a run of bad luck; out of luck.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Describes a specific period of misfortune rather than a permanent state of being unlucky. It carries a sense of frustration, often used when a series of small, annoying setbacks occur in quick succession. It is frequently applied to situations where external circumstances seem to conspire against someone, such as missing a bus just as it pulls away or encountering unexpected technical glitches.
Examples
Everything I do lately hasn't gone smoothly, I'm really having a streak of bad luck.
Related words
Common phrases
extremely unlucky
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person who is inherently unlucky or a 'loser' in life. It specifically refers to a temporary phase or a string of bad events, so it sounds unnatural if used to label someone's overall character.
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.
