saam3 si1三思
Jyutpingsaam3 si1
Yalesaam sī
Definition
To think over thoroughly and carefully; to think twice.
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
This is a huge mess, you really need to think it through.
Before making a decision, did you think it over carefully?
Related words
Common phrases
worth thinking over carefully
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.
Grammar color guide
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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).
