zaang1 jat1 hau2 hei3爭一口氣争一口气
Jyutpingzaang1 jat1 hau2 hei3
Yalejāang yāt háu hei
Definition
To win respect or make a successful effort to prove one's worth and avoid being looked down upon.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the internal drive to overcome humiliation or low expectations from others. It implies a previous state of being looked down upon or failing, where the individual feels a strong emotional need to redeem their reputation. It is often used in contexts of personal struggle, career setbacks, or family pressure.
Examples
He really wants to win some respect and prove to others that he can do it.
You must win back your dignity and not let people look down on you.
Related words
Common phrases
to win back one's dignity
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literally fighting or arguing, as the focus is on personal achievement and dignity rather than a physical or verbal confrontation.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
