him1 cing1謙稱谦称
Jyutpinghim1 cing1
Yalehīm chīng
Definition
To speak of oneself modestly or humbly.
neutralpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Used primarily in formal or semi-formal contexts to describe someone downplaying their own achievements or abilities. It carries a sense of social grace, acknowledging that the speaker is likely better than they claim to be. It is rarely used in casual conversation to describe one's own actions, as it sounds overly self-conscious or pretentious.
Examples
He modestly claimed that he was just lucky.
Why do you need to humbly downplay your own good work?
Related words
Common phrases
to humbly describe oneself as
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe genuine self-deprecation or low self-esteem. It specifically refers to a strategic, polite display of modesty rather than a lack of confidence.
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.
