zi6 san1自新
Jyutpingzi6 san1
Yalejih sān
Definition
To turn over a new leaf; to reform oneself.
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Use this to emphasize that an action was performed without assistance or company. It often appears with the intensifier 嘅 to stress the personal nature of the action. While it functions similarly to the English reflexive, Cantonese speakers frequently add 一個人 to further clarify that they were alone.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage of 自己 which can sometimes function as a pronoun for 'I' or 'me' in certain contexts. In Cantonese, it is strictly used to emphasize the agent of the action or to indicate solitude.
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.
