zi1 si6 tai2 daai6茲事體大兹事体大
Jyutpingzi1 si6 tai2 daai6
Yalejī sih tái daaih
Definition
A serious matter of great importance or gravity.
writtenother
How it's used
This is a formal idiom that sounds quite heavy and dramatic in everyday speech. It is often used to emphasize the gravity of a situation when someone is being too casual or irresponsible. Because it carries a literary weight, using it in a lighthearted context can sound sarcastic or overly theatrical.
Examples
This matter is very serious, don't mess around.
Do you think this matter is of great importance?
Related words
Common phrases
This is a serious matter, caution is paramount.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard adjective, but it functions as a complete clause or a predicate. It cannot be modified by degree adverbs like 好 or 幾, so saying 幾茲事體大 is grammatically incorrect.
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.
