taam1 dak1 ji3貪得意贪得意
Jyutpingtaam1 dak1 ji3
Yaletāam dāk yi
Definition
Done just for fun, or out of curiosity, rather than out of actual necessity.
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Implies a lack of serious intent or practical necessity behind an action. It captures the feeling of doing something on a whim because it seems novel or amusing at the moment. It is frequently used to explain impulsive purchases or picking up new hobbies that one might not stick with long term.
Examples
He bought a hamster to keep at home just for fun.
Related words
Common phrases
buy something on a whim
try something out of curiosity
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe actions done for genuine interest or long term passion, as it carries a nuance of being superficial or temporary.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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.
