ho2 bei1可悲
Jyutpingho2 bei1
Yalehó bēi
Definition
Sad, lamentable, or pathetic.
neutralemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Carries a strong sense of pity mixed with contempt, often used to describe someone's moral decline or a situation that is pathetic rather than just unfortunate. Unlike the common word 傷心 which describes a personal feeling of sadness, 可悲 is an evaluative judgment about a state of affairs or a person's character. It is frequently used in formal or literary contexts even within spoken Cantonese to add weight to a moral critique.
Examples
It is truly sad that he would sacrifice his dignity just for money.
Don't you find it sad to spend your whole life only chasing fame and fortune?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple sadness or grief, as it implies a sense of tragedy or worthlessness. Using it to describe a minor personal setback sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.
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.
