sap6 zi2 bat1 zim1 joeng4 ceon1 seoi2十指不沾陽春水十指不沾阳春水
Jyutpingsap6 zi2 bat1 zim1 joeng4 ceon1 seoi2
Yalesahp jí bāt jīm yèuhng chēun séui
Definition
To lead a pampered life, especially of a woman who does not need to do any housework.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a slightly traditional or even slightly critical undertone, often implying a lack of practical life skills due to being overly sheltered. It is specifically used to describe someone who has never had to do manual labor or household chores. While it can be used neutrally to describe a wealthy upbringing, it is frequently used to highlight how disconnected someone might be from the realities of daily life.
Examples
Her family is wealthy, and she has always lived a pampered life.
Who says a girl must be pampered to be happy?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply lazy or unwilling to help; it specifically refers to a lifestyle where one is shielded from work by their family or financial status.
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.
