sung1 sau2鬆手松手
Jyutpingsung1 sau2
Yalesūng sáu
Definition
To loosen one's grip; to ease the pressure of one's grasp.
colloquialdaily actionspeople
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of relaxing a physical grip, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone becoming more lenient or flexible. It often appears in contexts involving money, such as a boss becoming more generous with a budget or a parent relaxing strict rules.
Examples
Hold the rope tight, whatever you do, don't let go.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 放手, which implies giving up on a task or letting go of a relationship entirely. 鬆手 focuses on the act of loosening the tension, whereas 放手 is about relinquishing control or responsibility.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
