zuk6 sai3俗世
Jyutpingzuk6 sai3
Yalejuhk sai
Definition
The lay world; the mundane or secular world of ordinary people.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Carries a slightly philosophical or literary weight, often implying a contrast between the ordinary, messy human world and a more spiritual or detached state of mind. It is rarely used in casual small talk about daily life, appearing more frequently in discussions about religion, art, or personal lifestyle choices. When people want to describe the ordinary world in a more neutral or modern way, they typically use 社會 instead.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He really wants to get away from the secular world and live in the deep mountains.
Do you think there is still true love in this mundane world?
Related words
Common phrases
to distance oneself from the secular world
the judgmental gaze of the secular world
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 俗氣, which describes something as tacky or lacking in taste. While both share the character 俗, 俗世 refers to the world at large, whereas 俗氣 is a negative judgment on someone's style or behavior.
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.
