si3 san1試身试身
Jyutpingsi3 san1
Yalesi sān
Definition
To try on clothes to see if they fit and look good.
colloquialshoppingclothing
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the physical act of wearing a garment to check for fit or style before purchasing. It is almost exclusively used in retail settings, whereas simply wearing clothes at home is usually described with the verb 着.
Examples
I want to try this shirt on, do you have a small size?
Remember to check if the zipper works smoothly when you try it on.
Related words
Common phrases
fitting room
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 試穿, which is understood but sounds unnatural in a local Hong Kong context. Also, ensure you do not use it for testing other things like food or equipment, as it is strictly limited to clothing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
