sai6 san4 pek3 jyun6誓神劈願誓神劈愿
Jyutpingsai6 san4 pek3 jyun6
Yalesaih sàhn pek yuhn
Definition
To vow solemnly; to make a firm pledge or oath to show determination.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of skepticism from the speaker, often implying that the person making the vow is overcompensating or likely to break their word. It is almost exclusively used to describe someone who is making a dramatic, performative declaration to convince others of their sincerity. You will rarely hear it used to describe a genuine, quiet commitment.
Examples
He swore up and down that he had never told a lie.
Related words
Common phrases
to say something with solemn, dramatic vows
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a formal or legal oath, as it is strictly for informal, often hyperbolic, interpersonal contexts. It is not a neutral way to say someone promised something.
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.
