laam2 soeng5 san1攬上身揽上身
Jyutpinglaam2 soeng5 san1
Yaleláam séuhng sān
Definition
To voluntarily take on a task, responsibility, or blame on someone else's behalf.
colloquialworkdaily actions
How it's used
Carries a strong nuance of taking on unnecessary or burdensome responsibility, often implying that the person is being overly helpful or meddlesome. It is frequently used when someone intervenes in a situation that was not their problem to begin with, leading to extra stress or workload. The phrase highlights the voluntary nature of the burden, distinguishing it from simply being assigned a task by a superior.
Examples
This task is so troublesome, why did you take it on yourself?
He always likes to take on other people's work, making himself very busy.
Related words
Common phrases
to take it upon oneself
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe being assigned a task by a boss, as it specifically implies a voluntary act of taking responsibility. Using it in a professional context to describe your job duties sounds like you are complaining about your own role.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
