cin4 san1纏身缠身
Jyutpingcin4 san1
Yalechìhn sān
Definition
To be tangled, burdened, or constantly bothered by something or someone.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Focuses on the feeling of being trapped or weighed down by persistent burdens, whether they are physical tasks, emotional baggage, or financial obligations. It implies a sense of being unable to easily break free or move on because the issue keeps demanding attention. While it can apply to people, it is most frequently used to describe abstract concepts like work, illness, or debt.
Examples
I have been bothered by so many trivial matters lately, it is really annoying.
What other troublesome matters are you tangled up in?
Related words
Common phrases
to be burdened by debt
to be tied up with trivial matters
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simple physical tangling, such as a cord getting knotted. It is strictly reserved for figurative situations where someone feels mentally or situationally burdened.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
