siu2 sam1 ngaan5小心眼
Jyutpingsiu2 sam1 ngaan5
Yalesíu sām ngáahn
Definition
Small-minded, narrow-minded, or petty.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of personal criticism, often used to call out someone who holds grudges or lacks emotional maturity. It is frequently paired with the imperative 咪 to tell someone to stop acting petty in a specific moment. Unlike formal descriptions of personality, this is a direct, often blunt way to address someone's behavior.
Examples
He is very small-minded and always dwells on trivial matters.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 小器, which is more commonly used in daily speech to describe someone who gets offended easily or is stingy. While they overlap, 小心眼 specifically highlights a narrow, petty mindset rather than just a reaction to being slighted.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
