si1 sang1 wut6私生活
Jyutpingsi1 sang1 wut6
Yalesī sāng wuht
Definition
Private life; personal activities outside of work that do not involve public obligation.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Focusing on the boundary between public and personal space, this term is frequently used when someone feels their personal boundaries are being encroached upon. It often carries a defensive tone when used in arguments about privacy. Unlike formal contexts, it is commonly paired with verbs like 侵犯 or 關注 to describe how others interact with one's personal sphere.
Examples
Don't ask so much, my private life is very simple.
His job requires frequent public appearances, so it's hard to keep his private life secret.
Related words
Common phrases
to invade someone's privacy
to have a messy or promiscuous private life
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 秘密, which refers to a specific secret. 私生活 refers to the entire scope of one's personal affairs, not just a single piece of hidden information.
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.
