sei2 sat6死實死实
Jyutpingsei2 sat6
Yaleséi saht
Definition
Irreversibly grave, tough in texture, or dull in color.
- irreversibly grave; beyond hope; past saving
- (of food texture) hard; tough; not tender or fluffy
- (of color) pale; dull; lifeless
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of being stuck or unyielding, whether referring to a physical texture or a metaphorical situation. When describing food, it implies a lack of moisture or tenderness that makes it unpleasant to eat. In a figurative sense, it describes a situation that has reached a point of no return or a person whose demeanor is completely devoid of vitality.
Examples
This piece of meat is cooked until it's tough as leather, how am I supposed to chew it?
His expression is completely dull and lifeless, as if he's very unhappy.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 實, which can simply mean firm or tight. 死實 adds an intensifier that implies a negative, often irreversible, quality of being overly hard or dull.
Grammar color guide
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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.
