zoi3 saam1再三
Jyutpingzoi3 saam1
Yalejoi sāam
Definition
Over and over again; repeatedly doing the same action.
neutraldaily actionscommunication
How it's used
Emphasizes the deliberate, repetitive nature of an action, usually implying a sense of caution or persistence. It is most commonly paired with verbs of cognition or communication, such as 考慮, 叮囑, or 確認. Unlike simply doing something repeatedly, this implies a conscious effort to ensure accuracy or to express strong concern.
Examples
I repeatedly warned him to be careful.
Have you considered it over and over before deciding?
Related words
Common phrases
to consider over and over
to urge repeatedly
to double-check or confirm repeatedly
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 重覆, which describes an action that happens again regardless of intent. Use this only when the subject is actively choosing to perform the action multiple times to achieve a specific result.
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.
