zi6伺

Jyutpingzi6

Yalejih

Definition

To wait upon someone, or to spy on and watch secretly.

to wait upon; to serve
to spy on; to watch secretly

colloquialpeopledaily actions

How it's used

伺 is almost exclusively used in the compound 伺候 when referring to serving or attending to someone, often implying a sense of servitude or caretaking. Outside of this compound, it appears in formal or literary contexts like 伺機, which means to watch for an opportunity. In everyday speech, people prefer using 照顧 or 侍候 for general caretaking.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日zi6伺gei1機soeng2想tau1偷je5嘢。

He is always waiting for a chance to steal things.

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使keoi5佢sik6食faan6飯aa4呀？

Do you need to wait on him while he eats?

Common phrases

to wait on someone

zi6伺gei1機

to watch for an opportunity

Common mistake

Learners often confuse 伺 with 侍, as they share similar meanings and pronunciations in some contexts. While 侍候 is a common and acceptable way to write the verb for waiting on someone, 伺候 is also widely accepted in modern usage.