jam6 sing3任性
Jyutpingjam6 sing3
Yaleyahm sing
Definition
Wilful, wayward, or headstrong; acting entirely on one's own whims without considering the consequences.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who prioritizes their own desires over social norms or the feelings of others. While it can be used to describe a child's behavior, it is frequently applied to adults who refuse to compromise or consider the impact of their actions on others. It carries a negative connotation of being immature or stubborn.
Examples
Don't be so wilful, you should listen to other people's opinions.
He was very wayward when he was little and would throw tantrums all the time.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 固執, which specifically means stubborn or obstinate. While a stubborn person refuses to change their mind, a person described as 任性 is acting on their own whims and impulses regardless of the consequences.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
