siu3 jam4 jam4笑吟吟
Jyutpingsiu3 jam4 jam4
Yalesiu yàhm yàhm
Definition
To smile slyly, maliciously, or with a hidden motive.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Unlike the standard happy smile, this term specifically describes a smile that feels insincere, cunning, or even slightly sinister. It often implies the person is hiding a secret agenda or finds amusement in someone else's misfortune. Use it when you want to highlight that a smile is not friendly but rather unsettling.
Examples
He is looking at me with a sly smile, something seems off.
Related words
Common phrases
to stare with a sly smile
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the standard way to describe a happy smile, such as 笑口噬噬. Using this term to describe a genuinely happy person will make them sound like a villain.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
