saat3 fai3 fu2 sam1煞費苦心煞费苦心
Jyutpingsaat3 fai3 fu2 sam1
Yalesaat fai fú sām
Definition
To rack one's brains; to spend a great deal of time, effort, and mental energy.
writtendaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly formal or literary tone, often used to emphasize the depth of someone's dedication or the complexity of the effort involved. It is frequently employed when describing someone who has gone to great lengths to achieve a result, sometimes implying that the outcome might not have been worth the extreme exertion.
Examples
He has racked his brains to help you settle this matter.
Do you really need to rack your brains to come up with such a complicated plan?
Related words
Common phrases
to rack one's brains to arrange
to rack one's brains to manage or build up
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this as a casual verb phrase, but it is a fixed idiom that functions more like an adverbial or descriptive phrase. It is rarely used in very informal, quick-fire speech where simpler expressions like 諗爆頭 are preferred.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
