fai3 si6廢事废事
Jyutpingfai3 si6
Yalefai sih
Definition
To save trouble, avoid, or prevent something from happening; can't be bothered.
- to save trouble; to avoid or prevent something from happening
- to not feel like doing something; cannot be bothered
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Functioning as a verb phrase meaning to avoid doing something because it is pointless or troublesome, this term captures a very specific Hong Kong attitude of pragmatism. It often implies that the speaker has weighed the effort against the potential outcome and decided the latter is not worth the former. It is frequently used to dismiss unnecessary social interactions or tasks that would lead to more hassle than they are worth.
Examples
He is so annoying, I can't be bothered to deal with him.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 浪費時間, which is a more formal or literal way to say wasting time. 廢事 is strictly colloquial and focuses on the speaker's personal decision to opt out of an action, rather than just describing the passage of time.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
