suk1 saa1縮沙缩沙

Jyutpingsuk1 saa1

Yalesūk sā

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To back out, chicken out, or get cold feet due to fear.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

Carries a strong sense of cowardice or lack of integrity, as it implies breaking a prior commitment or agreement due to fear. It is frequently used in business or social contexts where someone has promised to participate in a plan but suddenly withdraws at the last minute. The term is deeply rooted in the pun between the medicinal herb 縮砂仁 and the colloquial phrase 走人, which means to leave or escape.

Examples

gong2講hou2好zo2咗jat1一cai4齊heoi3去leoi5旅hang4行，nei5你m4唔hai6係soeng2想suk1縮saa1沙aa4呀？

We agreed to travel together, you aren't thinking of backing out, are you?

keoi5佢gin3見dou2到go3個deoi3對sau2手gam3咁koeng4強，zik1即hak1刻suk1縮saa1沙m4唔gam2敢daa2打。

Seeing how strong the opponent was, he immediately chickened out and didn't dare to fight.

Common phrases

dat6突jin4然suk1縮saa1沙

suddenly back out

lam4臨zan6陣suk1縮saa1沙

back out at the last minute

Common mistake

Avoid using this in formal or professional written reports, as it is highly colloquial and carries a derogatory tone that could be seen as insulting to the person being described.