faan2 sing2反省
Jyutpingfaan2 sing2
Yalefáan síng
Definition
To reflect on one's own thoughts and behavior, examining what was done well and what was done poorly.
neutraldaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Carries a formal or serious weight, often implying that someone has made a mistake and needs to correct their behavior. It is frequently used in disciplinary contexts, such as by parents or teachers, rather than for casual, lighthearted self-reflection. When used in a social setting, it can sound quite stern or accusatory.
Examples
Go back and reflect on what you did wrong.
He reflected for a long time and finally realized where he went wrong.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a casual way to say 'think about' or 'consider', but it specifically refers to examining one's own faults or moral conduct. Using it to describe simple decision-making or planning sounds unnatural and overly dramatic.
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.
