sam1 hyut3 loi4 ciu4心血來潮心血来潮
Jyutpingsam1 hyut3 loi4 ciu4
Yalesām hyut lòih chìuh
Definition
To have a sudden inspiration; to be seized with a sudden impulse or whim.
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
This phrase describes an action driven by an unpredictable, spontaneous urge rather than a calculated plan. It often implies that the resulting action is slightly irrational or out of character for the person involved. Use it when explaining why you did something on the spur of the moment without prior preparation.
Examples
He suddenly had a whim to go to the airport and buy a ticket to leave.
Did you just get a sudden urge to go hiking?
Related words
Common phrases
suddenly have a whim
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive term like 'inspiration' or 'creativity', but it carries a nuance of impulsiveness that can sometimes lead to trouble or wasted effort.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
