zok3 zin6作賤作贱
Jyutpingzok3 zin6
Yalejok jihn
Definition
To torture, cause suffering, or treat with contempt, especially oneself.
colloquialemotionhealth
How it's used
Focuses heavily on the act of self-sabotage or self-neglect, often implying that the person is deliberately ignoring their own well-being or dignity. It carries a strong sense of pity or frustration from the speaker, suggesting that the behavior is unnecessary and harmful. While it can apply to others, it is most frequently paired with 自己 to describe someone who is being their own worst enemy.
Examples
Why do you have to torture yourself like this?
He is always abusing his own body, it is really not good.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general physical abuse or violence towards others, as it is almost exclusively used for self-inflicted harm or degradation. It is not a formal term for torture in a legal or military sense.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
