hoi1 waai4開懷开怀
Jyutpinghoi1 waai4
Yalehōi wàaih
Definition
To open one's heart, free oneself from worry or anxiety, and feel cheerful or carefree.
neutralemotiondaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the emotional release of letting go of worries or inhibitions. It is frequently paired with verbs describing activities that require a relaxed state of mind, such as eating or laughing. The term implies a sense of relief and genuine happiness after a period of tension.
Examples
It is rare for us all to get together, so we should drink and be merry.
He can finally laugh heartily without having to worry about so many things anymore.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal act of opening something physical, as it is strictly reserved for emotional or mental states. Using it to describe opening a door or a box would be incorrect.
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.
