bei1 tin1 man5 jan4悲天憫人悲天悯人
Jyutpingbei1 tin1 man5 jan4
Yalebēi tīn máhn yàhn
Definition
To feel sorrow and compassion for the state of the world and the suffering of humanity.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy, literary weight that often feels slightly out of place in casual, everyday banter. It is frequently used to describe someone who is overly sensitive or deeply affected by global suffering, sometimes with a hint of irony if the person is being dramatic about minor issues. It functions as a verb phrase but is often used to describe a person's general temperament or outlook.
Examples
He is always bemoaning the state of the world; he wants to cry whenever he sees the news.
Related words
Common phrases
a sense of compassion for the world
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple expression of sadness, but it specifically refers to a sense of moral concern or pity for the collective suffering of humanity. Using it to describe personal sadness or a bad mood is incorrect.
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.
