jin4 zung6言重
Jyutpingjin4 zung6
Yaleyìhn juhng
Definition
To speak too solemnly or take things too seriously, often exaggerating or being overly flattering.
- to say something too seriously, making others embarrassed or uncomfortable
- to speak with excessive praise or flattery
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Use this phrase primarily as a humble response when someone offers excessive praise or a compliment that feels undeserved. It functions as a polite way to deflect flattery by suggesting the speaker is overstating the situation. It carries a formal undertone despite being used in daily life, often signaling a desire to maintain modesty.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can mean a situation is grave or serious. In Cantonese, it is almost exclusively used as a social tool to respond to compliments, rather than to describe the severity of an event.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
