jan1 kan4殷勤

Jyutpingjan1 kan4

Yaleyān kàhn

名詞Uncommon

Definition

An action or gesture done to please, flatter, or show attentiveness to someone.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Often carries a suspicious undertone in Cantonese, implying that the person is being overly helpful because they have a hidden agenda or want something in return. It is rarely used to describe genuine, selfless kindness. The phrase 無事獻殷勤 is a very common idiom used to call out someone whose sudden friendliness feels manipulative.

Examples

keoi5佢mou4無laa1啦laa1啦deoi3對ngo5我gam3咁jan1殷kan4勤，hang2肯ding6定jau5有je5嘢soeng2想wan2搵ngo5我bong1幫sau2手。

He is being so attentive to me for no reason; he must want me to help him with something.

nei5你m4唔sai2使deoi3對ngo5我gam3咁jan1殷kan4勤，ngo5我jau5有sau2手jau5有goek3腳zi6自gei2己zou6做dou3到。

You don't need to be so attentive to me; I have hands and feet and can do it myself.

Common phrases

mou4無si6事hin3獻jan1殷kan4勤

to be overly attentive for no reason

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a purely positive word meaning polite or helpful. In daily life, it frequently functions as a warning sign that someone is trying to butter you up for a favor.