sat1 san4失神
Jyutpingsat1 san4
Yalesāt sàhn
Definition
Absent-minded, inattentive, or spacing out with a lack of focus.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
Focuses on the visual or mental state of being checked out, often implying that someone is physically present but mentally elsewhere. It is frequently used to describe a vacant gaze or a lack of focus during a conversation. Unlike simply being tired, it suggests a temporary lapse in awareness or engagement with the surroundings.
Examples
Why are you being so absent-minded?
Related words
Common phrases
a vacant look in one's eyes
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply forgetful or has a bad memory, as that would be better expressed with 善忘 or 記性差. 失神 specifically highlights the lack of focus in the present moment.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
