Bad things tend to happen in clusters, while good things rarely come at the same time. It is a fatalistic observation that life's troubles pile up, and one should brace for the worst when things go wrong.
This saying reflects a traditional Chinese worldview influenced by the unpredictability of fate. It is often used to console someone who is having a streak of bad luck.
It prepares people emotionally for more hardship after an initial setback — a kind of psychological armor. It also discourages overconfidence when things are going well.
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