hou2 sam1好心

Jyutpinghou2 sam1

Yalehóu sām

形容詞Common

Definition

Kind; good-hearted; having good intentions.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Often used as a mild reproach when someone is being ungrateful or ignoring well-intentioned advice. It frequently appears in the phrase 好心你啦, which functions as a way to tell someone to stop acting foolishly or to get their act together. While it describes kindness, it carries a strong sense of personal initiative or concern for someone else's well-being.

Examples

keoi5佢hou2好sam1心bong1幫nei5你，nei5你m4唔hou2好gam3咁joeng6樣deoi3對keoi5佢aa3呀。

They are trying to help you out of kindness, don't treat them like that.

nei5你zan1真hai6係hou2好sam1心，dak6特dang1登maai5買zou2早caan1餐bei2畀ngo5我sik6食。

You are really kind, going out of your way to buy me breakfast.

Common phrases

hou2好sam1心jau5有hou2好bou3報

Kindness is rewarded.

hou2好sam1心zou6做waai6壞si6事

To have good intentions but cause a bad outcome.

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can sometimes imply being a busybody or meddlesome. In Cantonese, it is overwhelmingly positive, though it can sound sarcastic when used in the structure 好心你啦.