bat1 gan6 jan4 cing4不近人情
Jyutpingbat1 gan6 jan4 cing4
Yalebāt gahn yàhn chìhng
Definition
Unsympathetic, inhumane, or lacking in basic compassion and reason.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom describes behavior that lacks human warmth or fails to account for basic social expectations. It is frequently used to criticize people in positions of power, such as bosses or landlords, who prioritize rules or personal gain over empathy. While it implies a lack of compassion, it specifically highlights a failure to act in a way that is considered socially reasonable or kind.
Examples
He is so mean even to the elderly, he is really unsympathetic.
Asking him to move out immediately, isn't that a bit too inhumane?
Related words
Common phrases
an unsympathetic way of doing things
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 冇人性, which is a much stronger, more aggressive accusation meaning inhuman or cruel. Use 不近人情 when someone is being rigid or cold, but reserve 冇人性 for truly monstrous or heartless actions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
