cung1衷
Jyutpingcung1
Yalechūng
Definition
One's inner feelings, heart, or sincere thoughts.
writtenemotion
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used in formal, written, or literary contexts rather than daily spoken Cantonese. It frequently appears in compound words like 衷心, which conveys a sense of sincerity or heartfelt emotion. You will rarely hear it in casual conversation, as native speakers prefer more direct, colloquial alternatives to describe feelings or sincerity.
Examples
What he said came from the heart.
How do you express your inner feelings?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for words like 中心, which sounds similar but refers to a physical center or hub. Ensure you distinguish between the abstract, emotional meaning of 衷 and the spatial meaning of 中.
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.
