bat1 jan4不仁
Jyutpingbat1 jan4
Yalebāt yàhn
Definition
Merciless, unkind, or lacking in benevolence.
colloquialdescriptionsemotion
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in the set phrase 麻木不仁 to describe a lack of empathy or moral sensitivity. While it carries a formal, literary weight, it is frequently used in daily speech to criticize someone for being cold or indifferent to the pain of others. It implies a deeper level of callousness than simply being mean or rude.
Examples
He is unfeeling towards those who are suffering.
How can you be so heartless?
Related words
Common phrases
numb and heartless
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being mean, but it specifically refers to a lack of feeling or moral conscience. Do not use it to describe someone who is just having a bad day or acting grumpy.
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.
