run into bad luck; say something inauspicious
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to encounter bad luck or misfortune; to have a streak of bad luck
informalA common idiom in Wu dialect regions (e.g., Shanghai, Suzhou). Often describes an unexpected setback or unlucky event.
Jīn今
tiān天
chū出
mén门
jiù就
shuāi摔
le了
yī一
jiāo跤
，
zhēn真
shì是
chù触
méi霉
tóu头
。
I tripped and fell as soon as I went out today; I'm really having a run of bad luck.
Tā他
yī一
kāi开
kǒu口
jiù就
shuō说
cuò错
huà话
，
chù触
le了
gè个
dà大
méi霉
tóu头
。
He put his foot in his mouth as soon as he opened it, really jinxing himself.
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Tóu投
zī资
shī失
bài败
，
tā他
jué觉
de得
zì自
jǐ己
chù触
méi霉
tóu头
le了
。
His investment failed, and he feels he's hit a patch of bad luck.
verb
to say something unlucky or inauspicious; to jinx something
informalCan refer to accidentally uttering words that are believed to bring bad luck.
Bǐ比
sài赛
qián前
bié别
luàn乱
shuō说
huà话
，
xiǎo小
xīn心
chù触
méi霉
tóu头
。
Don't say anything careless before the game, or you might jinx it.
Tā他
lǎo老
ài爱
zài在
kāi开
gōng工
shí时
shuō说
sàng丧
qì气
huà话
，
zhēn真
shì是
chù触
dà大
jiā家
méi霉
tóu头
。
He always says discouraging things when we start work, really bringing bad luck on everyone.