m4 zi6 zoi6唔自在
Jyutpingm4 zi6 zoi6
Yalem̀h jih joih
Definition
Uncomfortable, uneasy, or feeling awkward and constrained.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Focuses on psychological or social discomfort rather than physical pain. Use it to describe the feeling of being out of place, awkward, or restricted in a specific social setting. It carries a sense of being unable to act naturally or relax.
Examples
He feels very uncomfortable in front of strangers.
Do you feel uneasy talking to him?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this for physical discomfort like a headache or a stomach ache, as that requires 唔舒服. Using 唔自在 for physical pain will sound unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
