hei1希
Jyutpinghei1
Yalehēi
Definition
To hope, wish, or look forward to something that has not yet happened.
writtenemotion
How it's used
Functions primarily as a bound morpheme in Cantonese, meaning it rarely stands alone as a verb in everyday speech. It is almost exclusively encountered within compound words like 希望 or 希冀. When expressing the desire for something to happen, native speakers overwhelmingly prefer using 想 or 希望 instead of using 希 as a standalone verb.
Examples
Do you hope to go on a trip?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 希 as a direct verb equivalent to want, but it is not a standalone word in modern spoken Cantonese. Using it alone will sound unnatural or archaic to local ears.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
