zi6 zoi6自在
Jyutpingzi6 zoi6
Yalejih joih
Definition
Comfortable, relaxed, free, and at ease.
colloquialemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Refers to a state of mental or physical comfort where one feels completely unburdened by social pressure or external expectations. It is frequently used to describe the feeling of being able to be one's true self in a specific environment. When someone says they feel 唔自在, they are expressing a subtle sense of awkwardness or that they do not quite fit into the current situation.
Examples
He feels very at ease when he is home alone.
Why do you feel so uncomfortable?
Related words
Common phrases
free and unrestrained
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 舒服, which is primarily used for physical comfort like a soft bed or a pleasant temperature. While 舒服 can overlap with mental ease, 自在 specifically emphasizes the lack of restraint or self-consciousness.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
