kwai1 sam1 si6虧心事亏心事
Jyutpingkwai1 sam1 si6
Yalekwāi sām sih
Definition
An unconscionable, shameful, or immoral act that goes against one's conscience.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in the negative form, specifically with the verb 冇, to emphasize one's innocence or lack of guilt. It carries a strong moral weight, implying that the person is not just avoiding trouble, but is fundamentally honest and transparent. It is frequently used in defensive contexts when someone is being accused or questioned.
Measure word
gin2件gínExamples
He hasn't done anything shameful, so why would he be afraid of being investigated?
The most important thing in life is to be upright and not do anything immoral.
Related words
Common phrases
have not done anything shameful
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for 'mistake' or 'bad thing', but it specifically refers to actions that violate one's conscience. It is not used for accidental errors or simple blunders.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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).
