zaang1 faan2 daam6 hei3爭返啖氣争返啖气
Jyutpingzaang1 faan2 daam6 hei3
Yalejāang fáan daahm hei
Definition
To regain previously lost respect or dignity for oneself or one's group.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Literally translating to fighting for a mouthful of breath, this idiom captures the visceral feeling of being suffocated by humiliation and needing to breathe freely again through success. It is most commonly used in competitive contexts like sports, academic rivalments, or workplace performance where someone has been belittled. The focus is on collective or personal redemption after being looked down upon.
Examples
We lost so badly last time, we must regain our dignity this time.
Are you trying to regain your respect and prove to them that you can do it?
Related words
Common phrases
Must regain one's dignity
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe physical breathing or literal air intake. It is strictly metaphorical and reserved for situations involving social standing or pride.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
