zung3 cing4 sing1 sik1縱情聲色纵情声色
Jyutpingzung3 cing4 sing1 sik1
Yalejung chìhng sīng sīk
Definition
To indulge in sensual pleasures such as music, women, and sex.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong moral judgment and is typically used to criticize someone for living a decadent or hedonistic lifestyle. It implies a lack of discipline and a focus on fleeting physical pleasures at the expense of one's responsibilities or future. It is formal in tone despite being used in daily conversation to describe someone's negative behavior.
Examples
He is always addicted to sex and play, which has ruined his health.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a positive term describing someone who enjoys life, but it is strictly negative and implies moral decay or self-destruction.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
