zap1 zai6執滯执滞

Jyutpingzap1 zai6

Yalejāp jaih

Definition

Stubborn, inflexible, or overly rigid.

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How it's used

Describes a person who is stuck in their ways or unable to adapt to changing circumstances. It carries a slightly critical tone, implying that the person's rigidity is causing unnecessary difficulty for themselves or others. It is distinct from being principled, as it focuses specifically on the inability to adjust one's methods.

Examples

keoi5佢fan6份jan4人hou2好zap1執zai6滯，dim2點gong2講dou1都m4唔hang2肯goi2改。

He is very inflexible; no matter what you say, he won't change.

Common phrases

wai4為jan4人zap1執zai6滯

to be an inflexible person

sing3性gaak3格zap1執zai6滯

stubborn personality

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 固執, which is a more formal term for stubbornness. While 固執 is widely understood, 執滯 is more commonly used in casual, spoken Cantonese to describe someone who is specifically 'stuck' or 'clogged' in their thinking process.