sat1 dak1失德
Jyutpingsat1 dak1
Yalesāt dāk
Definition
To lose or lack moral integrity; to engage in misconduct or behave immorally.
neutralworkpeople
How it's used
Focuses heavily on professional ethics and moral integrity rather than general bad behavior. It is most frequently encountered in formal contexts like medical, legal, or civil service disciplinary hearings. Using it to describe a friend's minor social faux pas would sound overly dramatic and inappropriately serious.
Examples
As a public official, he actually committed misconduct.
If a doctor commits misconduct, will they be stripped of their license?
Related words
Common phrases
professional misconduct
misconduct in behavior
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 缺德, which refers to general lack of morality or malicious behavior towards others in daily life. 失德 implies a breach of a specific professional or social duty.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
