cyu2 sai3處世处世
Jyutpingcyu2 sai3
Yalechyú sai
Definition
To conduct oneself in society; to deal with people and situations in the world.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This term is primarily used in formal or reflective contexts when discussing someone's character or philosophy of life. It carries a sense of maturity and worldly wisdom, often implying a strategic or cautious approach to navigating social relationships. While it appears in everyday speech, it is rarely used to describe simple, casual interactions.
Examples
He is very smooth in his social dealings and knows how to handle people well.
What do you think of his attitude towards conducting himself in society?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general verb meaning to treat someone, but it specifically refers to the abstract concept of navigating social life and human relationships. It is not used for specific actions like helping or scolding someone.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
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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).
