man6 sam1 mou4 kwai5問心無愧问心无愧
Jyutpingman6 sam1 mou4 kwai5
Yalemahn sām mòuh kwáih
Definition
To have a clear conscience; to feel no shame or guilt upon self-reflection.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Often used in defensive contexts when someone is being accused of wrongdoing or facing public scrutiny. It serves as a moral shield to assert that one's actions align with personal integrity regardless of external judgment. It carries a sense of firm conviction and is frequently used to shut down further criticism.
Examples
I have always had a clear conscience about my work, so I have nothing to fear.
Related words
Common phrases
absolutely clear conscience
Common mistake
Learners sometimes mistake this for a simple adjective, but it functions more like a verb phrase describing a state of mind. It is not used to describe a person's character directly, but rather their specific attitude toward a past action or decision.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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).
