daan1 sam1丹心
Jyutpingdaan1 sam1
Yaledāan sām
Definition
Loyalty; a sincere and loyal heart.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
This term carries a literary and slightly dramatic weight, often used to describe deep, unwavering devotion or sincerity. It is rarely used in casual, everyday conversation unless the speaker is being intentionally poetic or emphasizing the depth of their feelings. It is almost exclusively paired with the measure phrase 一片 to emphasize the singular, pure nature of the heart.
Examples
He was loyal to the company, but who knew he would get fired in the end.
How can you prove that you are truly loyal to her?
Related words
Common phrases
a heart of pure loyalty
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common word for loyalty like 忠心, but 丹心 is much more emotive and formal. Using it in a mundane context, such as being loyal to a brand of toothpaste, would sound bizarrely over the top.
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.
