gaai3 sam1戒心
Jyutpinggaai3 sam1
Yalegaai sām
Definition
Vigilance, wariness, or a state of being on guard and not easily trusting.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
This term is almost always used in the context of interpersonal relationships or business dealings where one suspects potential deception. It implies a psychological defensive posture rather than physical alertness. It is frequently paired with verbs like 保持 or 提高 to emphasize the need for sustained caution.
Examples
He is very wary of strangers.
You need to stay vigilant when doing business.
Related words
Common phrases
to maintain vigilance
to let one's guard down
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 警覺, which is more about being physically alert or aware of one's surroundings. 戒心 specifically refers to a guarded attitude towards people or situations that might pose a risk of being cheated or manipulated.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
