jam1 zat1陰騭阴骘
Jyutpingjam1 zat1
Yaleyām jāt
Definition
Malicious, wicked, or lacking in conscience.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Originally a term from Buddhist and Taoist concepts referring to hidden virtues or good deeds done in secret, the meaning has completely inverted in modern Cantonese. It now almost exclusively describes someone who is spiteful, cruel, or lacking in basic morality. It carries a strong sense of moral condemnation, often implying that the person's actions will eventually lead to negative consequences for themselves.
Examples
He is always doing malicious things, it is truly heartless.
Don't be so evil-intentioned, you will face karma for it.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the original literary meaning of hidden virtue, but using it that way today will cause confusion as it is now strictly a pejorative term. Ensure you do not use it to describe someone who is simply quiet or reserved.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
