sik1 du1識ｄｏ识ｄｏ
Jyutpingsik1 du1
Yalesīk dū
Definition
To know how to behave appropriately; to be tactful and know how to act in a given situation.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Describes someone who possesses social intelligence or street smarts, specifically the ability to anticipate what is expected in a given social or professional context. It often implies a level of calculation or strategic behavior to please others or smooth over a situation. While it can be a genuine compliment, it can occasionally carry a slightly cynical undertone if the person is seen as being overly sycophantic or manipulative.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply knowing how to perform a task, which would be 識做嘢. 識做 focuses on social awareness and interpersonal savvy rather than technical competence.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
