bei1 gun1 zyu2 ji6悲觀主義悲观主义

Jyutpingbei1 gun1 zyu2 ji6

Yalebēi gūn jyú yih

Definition

Pessimism

neutralemotionpeople

How it's used

This term is often used as a noun to describe a philosophy, but in casual conversation, it frequently functions as an adjective by adding 嘅 or simply by placing it after 係. It carries a slightly more intellectual or formal weight than just saying someone is 悲觀. Using it in daily speech can sound like you are analyzing someone's personality traits rather than just describing their current mood.

Examples

keoi5佢fan6份jan4人hou2好bei1悲gun1觀zyu2主ji6義，zou6做mat1乜dou1都nam2諗zeoi3最waai6壞git3結gwo2果。

He is such a pessimist; he always thinks of the worst outcome for everything.

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使gam3咁bei1悲gun1觀zyu2主ji6義aa4呀？zung6仲jau5有gei1機wui6會㗎。

Do you really have to be so pessimistic? There is still a chance.

Common phrases

cung1充mun5滿bei1悲gun1觀zyu2主ji6義

full of pessimism

Common mistake

Learners often use this as a direct translation for the adjective pessimistic, but it is technically a noun. In natural speech, it is more common to use the adjective 悲觀 instead of the full noun phrase when describing a person's character.