hei1唏
Jyutpinghei1
Yalehēi
Definition
An interjection representing a sigh, or the sound of sobbing.
colloquialemotion
How it's used
This character is primarily used to represent the sound of sobbing or a heavy, mournful sigh. It is rarely used in formal writing and is mostly encountered in literature or scripts to describe a character's emotional state. Unlike general sighing, it carries a specific connotation of grief or distress.
Examples
Why are you sobbing all of a sudden?
Related words
Common phrases
sighing with emotion or regret
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the sound of laughter or general interjections. It specifically denotes a sad or pained sound, so using it to describe a happy sigh would be incorrect.
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.
