sam1 bat1 zoi6 jin4心不在焉
Jyutpingsam1 bat1 zoi6 jin4
Yalesām bāt joih yìhn
Definition
Absent-minded, distracted, or inattentive.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly formal or literary tone despite being used in everyday speech to describe someone who is mentally absent. It is often used when someone is physically present but their mind is clearly elsewhere, such as when they are worried or preoccupied. While it is perfectly understood in Cantonese, people often use more casual expressions like 魂遊太虛 or 失魂落魄 to convey a similar sense of being spaced out.
Examples
Why are you so distracted? Are you thinking about something?
Related words
Common phrases
to appear distracted
always being inattentive
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective, but it functions more like a descriptive state of being. Avoid using it to describe someone who is just naturally forgetful or clumsy, as it specifically implies a temporary lack of focus due to external thoughts or worries.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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).
