si1 zi6私自
Jyutpingsi1 zi6
Yalesī jih
Definition
Without permission or authorization; privately; on one's own.
neutraldaily actionswork
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of unauthorized or secretive action, often implying that the person doing the action has overstepped their boundaries. It is frequently used in formal or serious contexts to describe rule-breaking behavior, though it can also appear in daily speech when someone is annoyed by a lack of consultation.
Examples
He took my phone without asking me first.
Don't go changing this document without permission.
Related words
Common phrases
to act without authorization
to decide on one's own without consulting others
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 私下, which simply means privately or between two people without involving others. While 私下 is neutral and often implies discretion, 私自 carries a negative connotation of acting against rules or ignoring authority.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
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Particle
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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.
