sei2 sam1死心
Jyutpingsei2 sam1
Yaleséi sām
Definition
To give up hope; to have no more illusions about someone or something.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of finality and emotional resignation, often used when someone is clinging to a hopeless situation or an unrequited affection. It implies that the person has finally accepted a harsh reality and stopped wasting energy on a lost cause. It is frequently used as a blunt piece of advice or a harsh wake-up call to a friend.
Examples
He is not coming back, you should give up.
You still haven't given up? He doesn't like you at all.
Related words
Common phrases
to persuade someone to give up
to give up completely
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simply losing interest in a hobby or a task, as it specifically refers to the emotional process of letting go of hope or obsession regarding a person or a persistent goal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
