gyun3 lyun2眷戀眷恋
Jyutpinggyun3 lyun2
Yalegyun lyún
Definition
To be sentimentally attached to a person, place, or thing, and reluctant to let go.
writtenemotionpeople
How it's used
Expresses a deep, lingering emotional bond that makes it difficult to move on or let go. It often carries a slightly melancholic or nostalgic tone, suggesting that the attachment is rooted in past memories rather than just current preference. While it can apply to people, it is most frequently used to describe a sentimental connection to a specific location or a bygone period of life.
Examples
He is deeply attached to the place where he grew up.
Why are you still clinging to that old relationship?
Related words
Common phrases
to be attached to one's homeland
to be attached to fame and wealth
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 鍾意, but 眷戀 implies a much heavier, more profound emotional weight that borders on an inability to detach, whereas 鍾意 is a general term for liking something.
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.
