ji3 hing3 laan4 saan1意興闌珊意兴阑珊

Jyutpingji3 hing3 laan4 saan1

Yaleyi hing làahn sāan

形容詞

Definition

To lose interest, enthusiasm, or passion for something.

colloquialemotiondescriptions

How it's used

This idiom carries a literary and slightly formal tone despite being used in spoken Cantonese to describe a sudden drop in motivation. It often implies a sense of disappointment or weariness that follows repeated setbacks or a lack of progress. While it fits well in serious conversations about career or hobbies, it might sound overly dramatic if used for minor, trivial inconveniences.

Examples

keoi5佢zou6做zo2咗gei2幾ci3次dou1都sat1失baai6敗，gaau2搞dou3到ji3意hing3興laan4闌saan1珊。

He failed a few times and ended up losing all his enthusiasm.

nei5你zou6做me1咩gam3咁ji3意hing3興laan4闌saan1珊aa4呀？m4唔hou2好gam3咁laa1啦。

Why are you so unenthusiastic? Don't be like that.

Common phrases

gam2感dou3到ji3意hing3興laan4闌saan1珊

to feel unenthusiastic

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple feeling of boredom, but it specifically describes the loss of interest that was previously there. It is not used to describe someone who is naturally lazy or uninterested from the start.