caam1 ci1參差参差
Jyutpingcaam1 ci1
Yalechāam chī
Definition
Uneven, irregular, or varying in level and quality.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on a lack of uniformity or a wide gap in quality between items in a group. It is frequently used to critique performance or standards, implying that some parts are good while others are noticeably poor. When used to describe people, it often suggests a lack of consistency in their ability or behavior.
Examples
The weather has been very inconsistent lately, hot one minute and cold the next.
Your craftsmanship is so uneven, how can you take this to sell?
Common phrases
uneven proficiency levels
inconsistent quality
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe physical objects that are simply broken or messy. It specifically points to a lack of standard or consistency across a set or a process, rather than just a single item being in bad condition.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
