coeng3悵怅
Jyutpingcoeng3
Yalecheung
Definition
Disappointed, regretful, or filled with despair.
writtenemotion
How it's used
This character is primarily used in formal or literary contexts to describe a state of dejection or loss. In everyday spoken Cantonese, people rarely use it as a standalone adjective, preferring more common terms like 失望 or 唔開心 to express frustration or sadness. It often appears in the compound 悵惘 to emphasize a sense of aimless melancholy or lingering regret.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
dejected and lost
disappointed and melancholy
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common verb, but it is a descriptive state of mind. It is not used to describe a specific action of regretting something, which would be better expressed using 後悔.
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.
