zi6 tou2 fu2 hek3自討苦吃自讨苦吃

Jyutpingzi6 tou2 fu2 hek3

Yalejih tóu fú hek

語句Rare

Definition

To ask for trouble; to bring misery on oneself.

colloquialdaily actionsemotion

How it's used

This idiom is used to describe someone who knowingly chooses a path that leads to unnecessary hardship or trouble. It carries a strong sense of self-inflicted blame, often implying that the person should have known better. It is frequently used in a critical or teasing tone when observing someone else's poor decision making.

Examples

nei5你ming4明zi1知keoi5佢faat3發gan2緊pei4脾hei3氣zung6仲heoi3去liu4撩keoi5佢，zan1真hai6係zi6自tou2討fu2苦hek3吃。

You knew he was losing his temper and still provoked him; you really asked for it.

dim2點gaai2解nei5你jiu3要zi6自tou2討fu2苦hek3吃，heoi3去zip3接ni1呢go3個gam3咁maa4麻faan4煩ge3嘅hong6項muk6目aa4呀？

Why did you ask for trouble by taking on this troublesome project?

Common phrases

gaan2簡zik6直hai6係zi6自tou2討fu2苦hek3吃

simply asking for trouble

ho4何bit1必zi6自tou2討fu2苦hek3吃

why ask for trouble

Common mistake

Learners often confuse this with simply being unlucky, but the key nuance is that the person is the architect of their own misfortune. It is not used for external accidents or bad luck that one could not have avoided.