zi6 oi3自愛自爱
Jyutpingzi6 oi3
Yalejih oi
Definition
To take good care of oneself; to show self-regard and avoid physical or mental harm.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
Carries a strong moral weight, often used by elders or authority figures to advise someone to maintain their dignity and avoid bad influences. It implies that by engaging in reckless or immoral behavior, one is essentially failing to value their own worth. It is rarely used in a purely physical sense like eating healthy, but rather focuses on personal conduct and social reputation.
Examples
You must have self-respect and take care of yourself, don't go down the wrong path.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with self-love in the modern psychological sense of being kind to oneself. In Cantonese, it is almost exclusively used as a warning or a moral imperative to avoid self-destructive behavior.
Grammar color guide
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Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
