saam3 si1三思

Jyutpingsaam3 si1

Yalesam sī

Definition

A way of telling others to think twice before making any decision

colloquialdaily actionsother

How it's used

Carries a formal or serious weight despite being used in daily speech. It is often invoked when someone is about to make a life-changing or risky choice, serving as a polite but firm warning to slow down. Unlike casual phrases for thinking, this implies a structured, logical review of potential consequences.

Examples

le1 gin2 si6 hou2 daai6 wok6 nei5 zan1 hai6 jiu3 saam3 si1 aa4

呢件事好大鑊，你真係要三思呀。

This is a huge mess, you really need to think it through.

zou6 kyut3 ding6 zi1 cin4 nei5 jau5 mou5 saam3 si1 gwo3 sin1

做決定之前，你有冇三思過先？

Before making a decision, did you think it over carefully?

Related words

Common phrases

zik6 dak1 saam3 si1

值得三思

worth thinking over carefully

saam3 si1 ji4 hau6 hang4

三思而後行

look before you leap

Common mistake

Avoid using this for trivial daily choices like what to eat for lunch, as it sounds overly dramatic and out of place. It is reserved for significant decisions where the outcome has lasting impact.