zap1 zoek6執著执着
Jyutpingzap1 zoek6
Yalejāp jeuhk
Definition
Deeply attached to or obsessed with something; stubborn, persistent, or unyielding.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Carries a negative connotation when describing someone who is unable to let go of minor issues or rigid ideas. It implies a lack of flexibility that causes unnecessary stress for both the person and those around them. While it can sometimes describe a positive dedication to a craft, it is far more frequently used to criticize someone for being overly fixated on trivial matters.
Examples
Don't be so stubborn about everything.
He is obsessed with details and insists on perfection.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage which can sometimes imply a more neutral or positive sense of persistence. In Cantonese, it almost always points to a psychological rigidity that hinders one's happiness or social harmony.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
