sam1 faan4 hei3 cou3心煩氣躁心烦气躁
Jyutpingsam1 faan4 hei3 cou3
Yalesām fàahn hei chou
Definition
Irritated, extremely impatient, and short-tempered.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
This idiom describes a state of internal agitation where one feels both mentally troubled and physically restless. It is frequently used to explain why someone is acting out or being impatient with others. Unlike simple anger, it implies a lack of inner peace that makes it difficult to focus or stay calm.
Examples
He has been very upset and short-tempered lately, don't provoke him.
The weather is so hot, it's making me feel irritable and restless.
Related words
Common phrases
to be made to feel upset and irritable
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective like 嬲, but it specifically highlights the internal state of being flustered and unable to settle down, rather than just being angry at a specific person or event.
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.
