wan6運运
Jyutpingwan6
Yalewahn
Definition
Luck; fortune; factors beyond one's own efforts that lead to success.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the intangible force that influences outcomes beyond personal effort. It is frequently used in the context of gambling or sudden windfalls, often paired with the verb 行 to describe someone currently experiencing a streak of good fortune. Unlike the more abstract concept of fate, it is treated as a fluctuating resource that one can possess or lose.
Examples
He has been really lucky lately, winning every time he buys a Mark Six ticket.
Do you think this success came from hard work or just luck?
Related words
Common phrases
to be on a lucky streak
good luck
to have good luck
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 命, which refers to one's predetermined destiny or life path. While 運 can change or fluctuate, 命 is generally considered fixed from birth.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
