hip3歉

Jyutpinghip3

Yalehip

語素Common

Definition

To feel sorry, apologetic, or regretful for doing something wrong.

colloquialemotion

How it's used

歉 functions primarily as a bound morpheme in Cantonese, meaning it rarely stands alone as a verb in casual speech. It is most frequently encountered within compound words like 道歉 or 歉意. Using it as a standalone adjective to mean sorry is uncommon and often sounds slightly formal or literary compared to the everyday phrase 對唔住.

Examples

keoi5佢gok3覺dak1得hou2好hip3歉，so2所ji5以maai5買zo2咗fan2份lai5禮mat6物bou2補soeng4償。

He felt very sorry, so he bought a gift to make up for it.

nei5你zou6做co3錯zo2咗je5嘢，m4唔sai2使gok3覺dak1得hip3歉㗎。

You made a mistake, you don't need to feel sorry.

Common phrases

dou6道hip3歉

to apologize

hip3歉ji3意

expression of regret

Common mistake

Learners often try to use 歉 as a standalone verb like the English word apologize, but it requires a preceding verb or suffix to function naturally in a sentence. Always use 對唔住 or 講聲抱歉 when expressing regret in daily conversation.