caak1惻恻
Jyutpingcaak1
Yalechāak
Definition
To feel pity, sorrow, or compassion for someone else's misfortune.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively encountered within the compound 惻隱之心. It functions as a literary morpheme that describes an innate, empathetic reaction to the suffering of others. While it carries a formal or philosophical weight, it is still frequently used in serious discussions about morality or social responsibility.
Examples
Seeing them in such a miserable state, I really feel a sense of compassion.
Do you have any compassion for these vulnerable groups?
Related words
Common phrases
a heart of compassion
Common mistake
Do not use this character as a standalone verb or adjective in spoken Cantonese. It is strictly a bound morpheme that requires 隱之心 to form a coherent concept in modern usage.
Grammar color guide
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Adverb
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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.
