mou5 sam1 gei1冇心機冇心机

Jyutpingmou5 sam1 gei1

Yalemóuh sām gēi

Common

Definition

Lacking the mood, motivation, or patience to do something; feeling uninspired or low in spirits.

colloquialemotionwork

How it's used

Refers to a lack of mental energy or emotional drive to engage in a task, rather than a lack of ability. It is frequently used to describe a state of listlessness or being disheartened after a setback. When someone says they are 冇心機, they are signaling that their focus is elsewhere or that their spirits are low.

Examples

ngo5我gam1今jat6日hou2好攰，gui6完jyun4全cyun4冇mou5心sam1機gei1做zou6嘢。

I am so tired today, I have absolutely no motivation to work.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪jau5有sam1心si6事aa4呀？dim2點gaai2解seng4成jat6日dou1都mou5冇sam1心gei1機gam3咁joeng2樣？

Is something on your mind? Why do you always seem so unmotivated?

Common phrases

jyun4完cyun4全mou5冇sam1心gei1機

completely unmotivated

mou5冇sam1心gei1機duk6讀syu1書

not in the mood to study

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 冇心, which means to be inconsiderate or unintentional. While 冇心機 describes a lack of motivation, 冇心 implies a lack of care or malicious intent towards others.