cing1 sing2清醒
Jyutpingcing1 sing2
Yalechīng síng
Definition
Sober, conscious, and clear-headed; having a clear mind and knowing what one is thinking and doing.
colloquialhealthemotion
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of being sober from alcohol, this word is frequently used metaphorically to tell someone to stop being delusional or obsessed. It acts as a wake up call when someone is acting irrationally or ignoring reality. It is often paired with the particle 啲 to add a sense of urgency or command.
Examples
He is drunk and not at all sober right now.
Related words
Common phrases
stay sober or keep a clear head
to come to one's senses
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 醒目, which means clever or sharp-witted. While 醒目 implies intelligence or quick thinking, 清醒 focuses on the state of being aware, rational, or free from the influence of substances or emotions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



