zok3 caak6 sam1 heoi1作賊心虛作贼心虚

Jyutpingzok3 caak6 sam1 heoi1

Yalejok chaahk sām hēui

語句

Definition

To have a guilty conscience or feel uneasy after doing something wrong.

colloquialemotionpeople

How it's used

This idiom describes the specific psychological state of someone who has committed a transgression and fears discovery. It is often used to call out someone whose nervous behavior suggests they are hiding something. It carries a strong connotation of cowardice or lack of confidence in one's own innocence.

Examples

keoi5佢jat1一gin3見dou2到ging2警caat3察zau6就zau2走，zan1真hai6係zok3作caak6賊sam1心heoi1虛。

He ran away as soon as he saw the police; he's clearly feeling guilty.

nei5你mou5冇zou6做co3錯si6事，sai2使mat1乜zok3作caak6賊sam1心heoi1虛aa4呀？

You didn't do anything wrong, so why are you acting so guilty?

Common phrases

fan1分ming4明hai6係zok3作caak6賊sam1心heoi1虛

obviously feeling guilty

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a general term for being shy or nervous. It specifically requires the context of having done something wrong or illicit, rather than just general social anxiety.