運氣
wan6 hei3
The Cantonese word for "luck" is 運氣 (wan6 hei3).
運氣 is used to refer to general luck or fortune. For instance, if you want to describe someone as being unlucky, you can say 運氣差, which literally translates to "luck bad/poor".
Meaning: something that happens to someone by chance (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 運 (wan6), meaning 'to move/transport/fate' and 氣 (hei3), meaning 'energy/air/breath'.
Which one should you use?
While 運氣 refers to general luck, the phrase 好彩頭 is used to describe a specific lucky omen or a "good start" to an event.
How do you pronounce it?
wan6 hei3
When do people say it?
During Chinese New Year, the phrase Faat Choy (發財) is often used. It literally means "making money" and serves as a wish for prosperity and wealth.
Did you know?
- The word 運 (wan6) used in 運氣 is also used in the word for 'transportation' or 'shipping', treating fate as something that is carried or moved.
- In Cantonese, the word for 'luck' is fundamentally linked to the movement of stars and celestial bodies, as 運 refers to the orbiting of planets.
- To describe someone as currently being in a streak of luck, a Cantonese speaker might say their face is 'red' (紅), rather than using the word 運氣.
Examples in context
- 呢件事全靠運氣。ni1 gin3 si6 cyun4 kaau3 wan6 kei4.This matter depends entirely on luck.
- 我今日運氣唔錯。ngo5 gam1 jat6 wan6 kei4 m4 co3.My luck is not bad today.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about winning a small prize.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我中咗獎，運氣真係好！ngo5 zung3 zo2 zoeng2, wan6 hei3 zan1 hai6 hou2!I won a prize, my luck is really good!
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan子健，你真係好幸運。zi2 gin6, nei5 zan1 hai6 hou2 jing6 wan6.Zijian, you are really lucky.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我以為我冇運氣。ngo5 ji2 wai4 ngo5 mou5 wan6 hei3.I thought I had no luck.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan而家就知你運氣好啦。ji4 gaa1 zau6 zi1 nei5 wan6 hei3 hou2 laa1.Now you know your luck is good.
