gwaa3 nim6掛念挂念
Jyutpinggwaa3 nim6
Yalegwa nihm
Definition
To miss or think of someone; to feel a strong attachment or concern for a person.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
While 掛念 is understood in Cantonese, it sounds slightly more formal or literary compared to the ubiquitous spoken form 掛住. Use 掛住 in almost all daily interactions to sound natural. It is common to add the intensifier 好 before 掛住 to express a strong feeling of missing someone.
Related words
Common phrases
miss someone very much
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 掛住 with the phrase 掛住 meaning to be preoccupied with something, such as 掛住玩 which means to be distracted by playing. Context usually clarifies whether it means to miss a person or to be fixated on an activity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
