cit3 san1 cyu3 dei6設身處地设身处地

Jyutpingcit3 san1 cyu3 dei6

Yalechit sān chyu deih

動詞

Definition

To put oneself in someone else's shoes; to empathize by imagining oneself in another's situation.

neutralpeopleemotion

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong moral weight and is often used when someone is being unreasonable or lacking empathy. It functions as a verb phrase and is frequently paired with modal verbs like 試吓 or 識 to encourage a change in perspective. Unlike simple empathy, it implies a deliberate, active effort to mentally swap places with someone else.

Examples

jyu4如gwo2果daai6大gaa1家dou1都sik1識cit3設san1身cyu3處dei6地，zang1爭aau2拗zau6就wui2會siu3少hou2好do1多。

If everyone knew how to put themselves in others' shoes, there would be fewer arguments.

Common phrases

sik1識dak1得cit3設san1身cyu5處dei6地

know how to be empathetic

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a noun meaning empathy, but it is strictly a verb phrase describing the action of perspective taking. Do not use it to describe the feeling itself, which is better expressed as 同理心.