zin6賤贱
Jyutpingzin6
Yalejihn
Definition
Despicable, mean, or contemptible in character or behavior.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used to describe someone who is intentionally provocative or lacks basic decency in their speech and actions. It carries a strong sense of moral condemnation and is much harsher than simply calling someone rude. While it can describe a person's character, it is frequently applied to specific behaviors like backstabbing or making cruel jokes at another person's expense.
Examples
He always talks in a really mean way, just ignore him.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe someone who is merely poor or of low social status, as the term has evolved to focus almost exclusively on moral character and behavior in modern Cantonese.
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.
