Chinese–EnglishWith examples

倒霉

dǎo méi · dao mei

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 7–9Old HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to have bad luck
  2. to be out of luck
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In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

An unlucky day

  1. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)今天(jīntiān)真(zhēn)倒霉(dǎoméi)，公交车(gōngjiāochē)刚(gāng)走(zǒu)了(le)。

    I'm really unlucky today. The bus just left.

  2. Liangliang

    那(nà)我们(wǒmen)走路(zǒulù)吧(ba)。

    Then let's walk.

  3. Dengdeng

    走路(zǒulù)也(yě)倒霉(dǎoméi)，我(wǒ)的(de)鞋带(xiédài)断(duàn)了(le)。

    Walking is unlucky too. My shoelace broke.

  4. Liangliang

    等一下(děngyīxià)，今天(jīntiān)是(shì)周六(zhōuliù)，你(nǐ)不用(bùyòng)上班(shàngbān)啊(a)！

    Wait, today is Saturday. You don't have to go to work!

  5. Dengdeng

    对哦(duìò)，我(wǒ)忘了(wàngle)！那(nà)我(wǒ)今天(jīntiān)不(bù)倒霉(dǎoméi)了(le)。

    Oh right, I forgot! Then I'm not unlucky today.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)今(jīn)天(tiān)真(zhēn)倒(dǎo)霉(méi)，钱(qián)包(bāo)丢(diū)了(le)。

I'm really unlucky today; I lost my wallet.

02

他(tā)觉(jué)得(de)自(zì)己(jǐ)很(hěn)倒(dǎo)霉(méi)，总(zǒng)是(shì)遇(yù)到(dào)麻(má)烦(fan)。

He feels very unlucky, always running into trouble.

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Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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