gat1 si6吉士
Jyutpinggat1 si6
Yalegāt sih
Definition
Guts, courage, or nerve; also refers to custard sauce.
- slangguts; courage; nerve; bravery
- custard
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Derived directly from the English word guts, this term is used to describe someone's boldness or nerve in the face of a challenge. It is frequently used in negative constructions to highlight a lack of bravery or resolve. While it sounds like a loanword, it functions as a standard noun in casual speech.
Examples
He doesn't have much guts, he gets scared whenever he sees the boss.
Do you have the guts to confess to her?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the culinary term 吉士 which refers to custard or custard powder. Context is essential to distinguish between a person's lack of courage and a dessert ingredient.
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.
