sai6 jyun6誓願誓愿
Definition
To stare at something for an awfully long time; originally, to take an oath or vow.
- to stare at something for a long time without doing anything else
- datedto take an oath; to vow
How it's used
Originally referring to taking a solemn vow, this term has evolved into a sarcastic way to describe someone staring blankly or fixedly at something for an extended period. It implies a sense of aimlessness or being lost in thought, often suggesting that the person is wasting time instead of taking action. The shift from a serious religious or legal act to a mundane description of idleness is a classic example of semantic bleaching in Cantonese.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the formal act of making a vow in a serious context. Using it to describe a formal promise will sound confusing or unintentionally humorous to native speakers, as the modern usage is almost exclusively reserved for describing someone zoning out.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
