sam1 zi1心知
Jyutpingsam1 zi1
Yalesām jī
Definition
To know something already without being told explicitly.
colloquialemotioncommunication
How it's used
Implies a shared understanding or a secret that remains unspoken between parties. It often carries a slightly cynical or knowing tone, suggesting that while the truth is not being voiced, it is perfectly obvious to everyone involved. It is frequently used to dismiss the need for further explanation.
Examples
Everyone already knows what he is up to.
Related words
Common phrases
to be fully aware of the situation while keeping it to oneself
Common mistake
Do not use this to mean simply knowing a fact or a piece of information. It specifically refers to an internal, intuitive, or unspoken awareness of a situation that is already understood by the people involved.
Grammar color guide
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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).
