lau4 san4留神
Jyutpinglau4 san4
Yalelàuh sàhn
Definition
To be careful, take care, or pay attention.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the mental state of being alert or vigilant, rather than just physical caution. It often implies keeping one's eyes or ears open to avoid missing details or making mistakes. While it can be used as a verb, it is frequently used as an adjective to describe someone's attitude or performance.
Examples
Remember to be careful when crossing the road.
You are so inattentive at work, it is easy for accidents to happen.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 小心, which is more commonly used for physical safety or avoiding danger. 留神 carries a stronger nuance of paying attention to details or being mentally present.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
