taam1 sam1貪心贪心
Jyutpingtaam1 sam1
Yaletāam sām
Definition
Greedy; avaricious, having excessive desire to possess things that do not belong to oneself.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Describes a negative character trait or a specific impulsive action driven by desire. It is frequently used in casual warnings or criticisms when someone tries to take more than their fair share. Unlike formal terms for avarice, this is the standard way to call someone out for being selfish or insatiable in daily life.
Examples
Don't be so greedy, it's enough as long as there's enough to eat.
Related words
Common phrases
insatiable greed
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe someone who is simply ambitious or hardworking. It specifically carries a moral judgment about wanting things that one has not earned or does not need.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
