zing3 ging1正經正经
Jyutpingzing3 ging1
Yalejing gīng
Definition
Serious, proper, or of major importance; conforming to formal etiquette or standards.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Often used to describe someone who behaves in a proper, respectable, or conventional manner, especially when contrasting with someone who is being frivolous or silly. It frequently appears in the phrase 正經嘢 to refer to important business or a topic that requires focus. When describing a person, it implies they are reliable and follow social norms.
Examples
You should be more serious about life.
Has he ever talked about anything serious?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can sometimes imply being sexually conservative or prudish, as in Cantonese it primarily focuses on being serious, professional, or legitimate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
