can4 sai3塵世尘世
Jyutpingcan4 sai3
Yalechàhn sai
Definition
The material, mortal world in Buddhism or Taoism.
writtenother
How it's used
Often carries a melancholic or philosophical undertone, suggesting that the world is full of suffering or transient attachments. It is frequently used in contexts involving renunciation, such as someone choosing to become a monk or nun, or when reflecting on the futility of worldly desires.
Examples
He decided to see through the material world and went to the mountains to practice.
How many things in this material world are actually worth holding onto?
Related words
Common phrases
to see through the vanity of the world
to distance oneself from the material world
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual, everyday conversation about mundane life, as it sounds overly dramatic or literary. It is not a synonym for the general word for world, which is 世界.
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.
