hip3 ji3歉意
Jyutpinghip3 ji3
Yalehip yi
Definition
Apology, regret, or an apologetic feeling.
writtenemotioncommunication
How it's used
Expresses a formal or abstract sense of regret rather than the act of apologizing itself. While it functions as a noun, it is almost exclusively found in formal written contexts or stiff spoken phrases like 表示歉意. In casual daily speech, people prefer using the verb 唔好意思 or 對唔住 to convey the same sentiment.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word in casual conversation with friends or family, as it sounds overly detached and bureaucratic. It is better suited for official correspondence or news reports.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
