sai3 zuk6世俗
Jyutpingsai3 zuk6
Yalesai juhk
Definition
Secular, worldly, or relating to the common run of humankind.
- secular; unrelated to religion or spiritual beliefs
- worldly; the common run of humankind; stereotypical societal norms
neutraldescriptionspeople
How it's used
Often carries a slightly negative or weary connotation when referring to the pressures of social norms or material pursuits. It is frequently used to describe a desire to escape the mundane or conventional expectations of society. Unlike neutral terms for society, this word specifically highlights the constraints placed on an individual by the collective.
Examples
He really wants to leave the secular world and live in the deep mountains.
These worldly views are really annoying.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the more neutral term 社會, which simply means society. Using 世俗 implies a judgment or a sense of being trapped by worldly affairs, whereas 社會 is purely descriptive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
