san1 han4身痕
Jyutpingsan1 han4
Yalesān hàhn
Definition
To have a strong craving or urge to do something, as if addicted.
colloquialemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Originally referring to physical skin irritation, this term has evolved to describe an irresistible psychological itch to engage in a specific habit or risky behavior. It is frequently used when someone is about to do something they know they should avoid, such as gambling, shopping, or picking a fight. The tone is often teasing or admonishing, implying that the person is bringing trouble upon themselves.
Examples
Are you itching for trouble again, wanting to go gamble?
Seeing the new game release, I really have the urge to buy it.
Related words
Common phrases
itching to go shopping
itching to gamble
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe actual physical itching caused by allergies or insect bites, as that is typically referred to as 皮膚痕 or simply 痕. Using 身痕 in a medical context will sound like you are accusing the person of having a bad habit rather than a physical ailment.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).
