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March 24, 2026
倒霉dǎoméi(dao3mei2)
The phrase 倒霉 (dǎoméi) refers to experiencing bad luck or misfortune. It is commonly used in informal contexts to express frustration over unfortunate events or situations, such as losing something valuable or facing unexpected problems.
Frequency#2885DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing bad luck openly can be a way to bond with others over shared experiences of misfortune, often leading to laughter or camaraderie in difficult situations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (倒) who is 'toppling over' due to a string of unlucky events, like slipping on a banana peel. The character 霉 resembles a moldy object, which can remind you of something that has gone bad, reinforcing the idea of bad luck.
Meanings of 倒霉
dǎoméi(dao3mei2)
1to have bad luck
2to be out of luck
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About 倒霉
倒霉Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2885Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 倒霉
Podcast: 倒霉
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AI Study Notes for 倒霉
Quick Contrast
倒霉 (dǎoméi) vs 碰壁 (pèngbì) — use 倒霉 to emphasize bad luck or misfortune, while 碰壁 focuses on encountering obstacles or failures.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (倒) who is 'toppling over' due to a string of unlucky events, like slipping on a banana peel. The character 霉 resembles a moldy object, which can remind you of something that has gone bad, reinforcing the idea of bad luck.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with tone; using the wrong tones can change the meaning entirely. This expression is usually informal, so it may not be suitable for formal writing or serious discussions. Common collocations include '倒霉的事' (unlucky event) or '真倒霉' (really unlucky).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 倒霉 connects with other expressions of emotion and experience. Focus on using it in conversation to describe personal experiences, helping expand vocabulary related to feelings and situations.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing bad luck openly can be a way to bond with others over shared experiences of misfortune, often leading to laughter or camaraderie in difficult situations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 倒霉 with 幸运 (xìngyùn) which means lucky. A common mistake is saying '我倒霉的' instead of '我倒霉', as the additional 的 is unnecessary and incorrect in this context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 倒霉
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Grammar Patterns of 倒霉
倒霉 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
wǒ lián shǒu jiǎo sì hū yǒu xiē xiē rè hōng hōng le. ., āi , luò dào le zhè zhǒng dǎo méi!
My limbs were almost feverish , Jesus , what a situation.
Cultural Notes for 倒霉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing bad luck openly can be a way to bond with others over shared experiences of misfortune, often leading to laughter or camaraderie in difficult situations.
Frequently Asked Questions about 倒霉
No, 倒霉 is generally used in casual conversations and is not appropriate for formal writing or professional settings.
You can use 不幸 (bùxìng) meaning 'unfortunate' or 运气不好 (yùnqì bùhǎo) meaning 'bad luck' as alternatives.
You can use the phrase 幸运 (xìngyùn), which directly translates to 'lucky'.
