bei1 taan3悲嘆悲叹
Jyutpingbei1 taan3
Yalebēi taan
Definition
To sigh with grief or sorrow; to lament.
writtenemotion
How it's used
This word carries a literary and heavy tone that is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation. It implies a deep, almost poetic sense of sorrow or helplessness rather than just being annoyed or disappointed. You will mostly encounter it in formal writing, news reports, or dramatic storytelling.
Examples
Seeing them in such a miserable state, I couldn't help but sigh.
This matter is truly something that makes one sigh in misery.
Related words
Common phrases
sighing incessantly in misery
Common mistake
Avoid using this in daily life to describe minor inconveniences like missing a bus or losing a pen. It is reserved for serious, tragic, or deeply lamentable situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
