sam1 on1 lei5 dak1心安理得
Jyutpingsam1 on1 lei5 dak1
Yalesām ōn léih dāk
Definition
To have a clear conscience; to feel at peace with oneself and free from guilt.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong moral weight, often used to defend one's integrity against external criticism or internal doubt. It implies that the speaker has fulfilled their duties or acted ethically, leaving no room for regret. Unlike simple expressions of being at ease, this specifically highlights the absence of guilt regarding past actions.
Examples
I have always lived with a clear conscience, so I do not care what others say.
You cheated people out of their money, how can you possibly have a clear conscience?
Related words
Common phrases
to live with a clear conscience
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general feeling of relaxation or comfort, but it specifically refers to moral peace of mind. It is inappropriate to use this when describing physical comfort or simply being calm in a stressful situation.
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).
