sat1 wan4 lok6 paak3失魂落魄
Jyutpingsat1 wan4 lok6 paak3
Yalesāt wàhn lohk paak
Definition
Distracted and utterly listless, as if having lost one's soul.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
This idiom describes a state of being completely scattered or lacking focus, often due to shock, exhaustion, or being deeply preoccupied with something else. While it carries a slightly dramatic tone, it is frequently used in casual conversation to describe someone who is physically present but mentally elsewhere. It implies a temporary loss of composure rather than a permanent personality trait.
Examples
He seems listless today, did something happen?
Don't be absent-minded when working, you need to focus to do a good job.
Related words
Common phrases
in a listless manner
the whole person is listless
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of someone being haunted or spiritually lost, but it is almost always used to describe a lack of concentration or a dazed, absent-minded state in everyday life.
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.
