san1 ji3新意
Jyutpingsan1 ji3
Yalesān yi
Definition
New idea, novelty, or creativity.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Often used in the negative form 冇乜新意 to critique something for being repetitive, predictable, or unoriginal. It carries a slightly critical tone when evaluating creative work, food menus, or recurring events. Unlike the broader concept of creativity, it specifically refers to a fresh or novel angle on an existing subject.
Examples
This plan doesn't seem to have much in the way of new ideas.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct translation for the English adjective creative, as it is a noun meaning a new idea or novelty. Use 有創意 to describe a person or thing that is creative.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
