zok3 sik1作息
Jyutpingzok3 sik1
Yalejok sīk
Definition
Work and rest; one's daily routine and lifestyle.
neutralworkhealth
How it's used
Refers specifically to the balance or pattern of one's daily activities, particularly the division between professional duties and personal downtime. While it sounds slightly formal in spoken Cantonese, it is frequently used when discussing health, productivity, or lifestyle habits. It is common to pair this with adjectives like 規律 to describe whether someone's habits are healthy or consistent.
Examples
What is your daily routine like?
His work and rest schedule is very irregular, he stays up late all the time.
Related words
Common phrases
regular daily routine
schedule for work and rest
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Mandarin usage which can sometimes imply a more rigid institutional schedule. In casual Cantonese, it is more natural to use 習慣 or 生活習慣 when talking about general daily routines, reserving 作息 for discussions specifically about the balance of work and sleep.
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.
