jau5 ji3 si1有意思
Jyutpingjau5 ji3 si1
Yaleyáuh yi sī
Definition
Intriguing, interesting, or meaningful; worth appreciating or thinking about.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Describes something that possesses depth, charm, or a unique quality that invites reflection rather than just being funny or entertaining. It is often used to praise creative works like books, films, or art that leave a lasting impression. Unlike the Mandarin usage which can sometimes imply romantic interest, the Cantonese usage focuses almost exclusively on the intellectual or aesthetic value of a subject.
Examples
This movie is quite intriguing; it is worth watching again.
The story you told is very engrossing, is there any more to it?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid confusing this with 有趣, which is more general and often refers to something simply being funny or amusing. Use 有意思 when you want to highlight that something is thought-provoking or has a deeper layer of meaning.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
