zoeng1 gung1 zit3 zeoi6將功折罪将功折罪

Jyutpingzoeng1 gung1 zit3 zeoi6

Yalejēung gūng jit jeuih

Definition

To atone for one's crimes or mistakes by doing good deeds or performing meritorious service.

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How it's used

This idiom is primarily used in formal or serious contexts, often involving professional settings or moral accountability. It implies that a person has previously committed a fault and is now performing a significant positive action specifically to balance out that negative history. It carries a sense of redemption through effort rather than just an apology.

Examples

keoi5佢soeng2想zoeng1將gung1功zit3折zeoi6罪，zyu2主dung6動bong1幫sau2手zou6做maai4埋go2嗰fan2份gung1工。

He wants to make up for his mistakes by taking the initiative to finish that job.

nei5你faan6犯zo2咗gam3咁，dim2點joeng2樣zoeng1將gung1功zit3折zeoi6罪aa4呀？

You made such a big mistake, how are you going to make up for it?

Common phrases

si3試tou4圖zoeng1將gung1功zit3折zeoi6罪

attempt to make amends

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general way to say 'make up for a mistake', but it specifically requires a sense of 'earning' forgiveness through a counterbalancing achievement. It is not appropriate for minor daily social blunders like being late or forgetting a name.