sam1 saan2心散
Jyutpingsam1 saan2
Yalesām sáan
Definition
Distracted, unfocused, and unable to concentrate.
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How it's used
Describes a state where one's focus is fragmented across too many things, often implying a lack of discipline or an inability to settle down. It is frequently used by teachers or parents to reprimand someone who is daydreaming or fidgeting instead of completing a task. The term carries a slightly negative connotation of being flighty or mentally absent.
Examples
Don't get distracted while you are doing your homework.
He is always distracted, how can he pass the exam?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 走神, which is a more formal or Mandarin-influenced way to describe a momentary lapse in attention. 心散 is specifically used in Cantonese to describe a more persistent state of being unfocused or easily led astray by surroundings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
