deon1敦
Jyutpingdeon1
Yaledēun
Definition
Earnest, sincere, and honest.
writtendescriptions
How it's used
This character is primarily a formal morpheme used in written Chinese or set phrases rather than spoken Cantonese. It carries a sense of gravity and respect that makes it unsuitable for casual conversation. When you see it in compounds like 敦厚 or 敦請, it emphasizes a deep, unwavering sincerity that goes beyond simple politeness.
Examples
He is a very sincere and honest person, very trustworthy.
We sincerely invite you to attend the banquet.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this character as a standalone adjective in speech, as it will sound unnatural or archaic. It is almost exclusively found in formal written correspondence or specific idioms.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
