zok3 faat3 zi6 bai6作法自斃作法自毙
Definition
To suffer the consequences of one's own doing; to bring destruction upon oneself.
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of irony, specifically highlighting that the negative outcome was entirely preventable had the person not initiated the harmful action themselves. It is frequently used in professional or political contexts to describe someone whose own schemes or rules backfire spectacularly. Unlike simple expressions of regret, it emphasizes the causal link between a person's initial intent and their eventual downfall.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for failure, but it specifically requires that the person was the architect of their own misfortune. It is not appropriate to use when someone suffers from external circumstances or bad luck.
Grammar color guide
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.
