au2 sam1 lik6 hyut3嘔心瀝血呕心沥血
Jyutpingau2 sam1 lik6 hyut3
Yaleáu sām lihk hyut
Definition
To pour one's heart and soul into something; to make a painstaking effort.
writtenworkdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy, serious tone, often implying a sacrifice of one's health or well-being for a creative or intellectual pursuit. It is typically reserved for major accomplishments like writing a book, composing music, or completing a long-term research project. Using it for minor tasks sounds overly dramatic or sarcastic.
Examples
He put his heart and soul into this project, it was really exhausting.
Why don't you enter the work you put so much effort into into the competition?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for working hard, but it specifically emphasizes the mental and emotional toll of the process rather than just physical labor.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
