gam2 jan1 daai3 dak1感恩戴德
Jyutpinggam2 jan1 daai3 dak1
Yalegám yān daai dāk
Definition
To be deeply grateful for someone's kindness or favors.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
Carries a heavy, formal tone that is often used with a touch of irony or sarcasm in daily speech. While it literally means to be deeply thankful, people frequently use it to point out that someone is being ungrateful or to emphasize an extreme sense of obligation. It is rarely used in casual, lighthearted contexts.
Examples
You have helped me so much, I am truly grateful.
Related words
Common phrases
to be grateful to someone
Common mistake
Learners often use this as a direct translation for simple gratitude, but it sounds overly dramatic and stiff in everyday situations. For normal thankfulness, stick to using 多謝 or 感激.
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.
