jin6 sai3現世现世
Jyutpingjin6 sai3
Yaleyihn sai
Definition
The present life, or the contemporary world.
- the present life; this lifetime
- the contemporary world; the living world
neutralother
How it's used
Carries a slightly philosophical or dramatic tone, often appearing in discussions about life, death, or the contrast between reality and the afterlife. It is less common in casual daily chatter compared to terms like 而家嘅世界 or 呢個世界. Use it when you want to emphasize the current era or physical existence as a distinct state of being.
Examples
It seems like he doesn't want to stay in this world anymore.
Do you think life in the contemporary world is very hard?
Related words
Common phrases
retribution in this life
Common mistake
Avoid using this to mean 'present time' in a simple sense, such as 'currently' or 'nowadays'. For those meanings, stick to 而家 or 現時, as 現世 implies a broader, more existential scope.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
