seon1徇
Jyutpingseon1
Yalesēun
Definition
To comply with, give in to personal considerations, or die for a cause.
- to comply with; to give in to personal feelings or connections
- to die for a cause; to sacrifice oneself for
- literaryquick; rapid
writtenother
How it's used
Primarily used in formal or legalistic contexts, this character is almost exclusively encountered in the compound 徇私, meaning to favor someone unfairly. It carries a strong negative connotation of corruption or bias. Outside of set phrases like 徇眾要求, it is rarely used as a standalone verb in modern spoken Cantonese.
Examples
He won't show favoritism, you can rest assured.
Why did you sing this song to satisfy the public request?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 順, which sounds similar but means to follow or comply with a flow or trend. Using 徇 in place of 順 will make your speech sound archaic or incorrectly formal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
