si6 taai3事態事态
Jyutpingsi6 taai3
Yalesih taai
Definition
The state of affairs or situation, usually referring to an unfavorable development.
writtenother
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the progression or unfolding of a negative event rather than just a static situation. It is almost exclusively used in formal or serious contexts, such as news reports or professional discussions, to describe something that is deteriorating or requires close monitoring.
Examples
The situation has become very serious and needs immediate handling.
Do you know that the situation is already out of control?
Related words
Common phrases
development of the situation
the situation is serious
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe everyday, neutral situations like your schedule or a simple meeting. It carries a sense of gravity or impending trouble that makes it sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.
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.
