hin1 gwaa3牽掛牵挂
Jyutpinghin1 gwaa3
Yalehīn gwa
Definition
The emotion of worrying about or being unable to let go of someone or something.
neutralemotionfamily
How it's used
Expresses a lingering, sentimental concern for someone or something that prevents a person from feeling completely at ease. It carries a deeper, more emotional weight than just being worried, often implying a sense of attachment or responsibility. While it can function as a verb, it is frequently used as a noun to describe a state of mind or a burden one carries.
Examples
He is traveling alone, how could his family not worry about him?
The children are all grown up now, I finally have no worries.
Related words
Common phrases
to have no worries
to have something on one's mind
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 擔心, which is a more general term for being anxious or concerned about a specific event. 牽掛 implies a more persistent, long-term emotional bond or attachment to the person or thing being worried about.
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.
