sik1 lik6惜力
Jyutpingsik1 lik6
Yalesīk lihk
Definition
To spare one's energy or hold back one's effort.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
Describes a deliberate choice to conserve physical or mental energy, often implying a lack of full commitment or enthusiasm. It is frequently used in work or sports contexts to criticize someone for holding back rather than giving their best. Unlike simply being lazy, it suggests a strategic decision to save strength for later or to avoid overexertion.
Examples
Don't be so sparing with your effort at work, get it finished quickly.
He is very sparing of his energy when exercising because he is afraid of getting tired.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 慳力, which can refer to finding a more efficient way to do something to save effort, whereas 惜力 carries a stronger connotation of being unwilling to exert oneself fully.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
