lei6 juk6 fan1 sam1利慾薰心利欲熏心
Jyutpinglei6 juk6 fan1 sam1
Yaleleih yuhk fān sām
Definition
Blinded by lust for gain or greed, such that one loses their conscience.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative moral judgment, describing someone who has completely lost their sense of right and wrong due to an obsession with money or power. It is often used in serious contexts, such as criticizing corrupt officials or business people who prioritize profit over ethics. Unlike simpler terms for greed, this phrase emphasizes the internal corruption of the person's conscience.
Examples
He is so blinded by greed that he even cheats his own family.
How could you become so blinded by greed like this?
Related words
Common phrases
completely blinded by greed
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective describing someone who likes money, but it is a much heavier term implying a total loss of moral compass. It is not suitable for describing someone who is just frugal or ambitious.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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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).
