dong1 sam1當心当心
Jyutpingdong1 sam1
Yaledōng sām
Definition
To be careful, take care, or pay attention.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
While often used in formal warnings or signs, in spoken Cantonese it carries a slightly more serious or cautionary tone than the more common 小心. It is frequently used when advising someone to be alert to a specific, potentially dangerous situation rather than just general caution. You will often hear it paired with 啲 to soften the command, making it sound more like friendly advice than a stern order.
Examples
Be careful of cars when crossing the road.
Watch your step while walking, the ground is very slippery.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 小心, but 小心 is much more versatile and used in almost every daily situation. Using 當心 in casual, low-stakes contexts can sound slightly stiff or overly dramatic.
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.
