m4 sai2 sei2唔洗死
Jyutpingm4 sai2 sei2
Yalem̀h sái séi
Definition
No big deal; it is not that bad and you will not die from it.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
This phrase is a hyperbolic way to tell someone to calm down when they are overreacting to a minor setback. It functions as a reality check, emphasizing that the situation is not life threatening or catastrophic. It is strictly informal and should be reserved for friends or people you know well, as it can sound dismissive or insensitive in a professional setting.
Examples
It is just being late, it is not the end of the world, right?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 唔使, which means "no need." The character 洗 in this specific idiom is a colloquial variant of 使, but using it in other contexts as a replacement for "need" is non-standard and often considered a spelling error.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
