seon3 sai6 daan3 daan3信誓旦旦
Jyutpingseon3 sai6 daan3 daan3
Yaleseun saih daan daan
Definition
To make a solemn vow; to pledge with the utmost sincerity.
colloquialcommunicationpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of irony or skepticism, as it is almost exclusively used to describe promises that were eventually broken. It highlights the contrast between the sincerity of the initial vow and the lack of follow through in reality. It is rarely used to describe a promise that was actually kept.
Examples
He solemnly vowed to change before, but he ended up making the same mistake again.
You made such a solemn vow back then, why are you backing out now?
Related words
Common phrases
to say something with a solemn vow
to guarantee with a solemn vow
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a simple, honest promise. It specifically implies a dramatic or overly confident tone that makes the speaker sound like they are trying too hard to be believed, often signaling that the listener should be wary.
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.
