mou5 sam1冇心
Jyutpingmou5 sam1
Yalemóuh sām
Definition
To not mean to; to do something unintentionally without prior intent.
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Use this phrase to express that an action was not deliberate or malicious, often to diffuse tension after a mistake. It functions as a common way to apologize or defend one's character when someone else feels offended. It is distinct from 唔小心, which emphasizes the lack of care or attention, whereas 冇心 focuses on the lack of intent or desire to cause a specific outcome.
Examples
I accidentally broke the cup just now, I really didn't mean to.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 冇心機, which means to have no motivation or interest in doing something. Using 冇心 when you mean you are tired or unmotivated will cause confusion.
Grammar color guide
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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.
