gam2 taan3感歎感叹
Jyutpinggam2 taan3
Yalegám taan
Definition
To sigh with sadness or deep emotion; to bemoan, often to denounce an unhealthy trend.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Carries a heavier, more reflective weight than a simple sigh of physical tiredness or frustration. It is frequently used when observing changes in society, the passage of time, or the loss of traditional values. Unlike a casual complaint, it implies a deeper sense of melancholy or moral judgment regarding the state of the world.
Examples
He is always sighing about how young people nowadays have no manners.
Seeing all the old buildings here torn down really makes one sigh with emotion.
Related words
Common phrases
to lament the transience of life
to let out a sigh of lament
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simple breathing out or expressing physical exhaustion, which would be 嘆氣. Use 感歎 when the sigh is triggered by a philosophical or emotional realization about life or society.
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.
