jan1欣
Jyutpingjan1
Yaleyān
Definition
Happy, joyful, or pleased.
writtenemotion
How it's used
Functions primarily as a literary morpheme rather than a standalone adjective in spoken Cantonese. It is almost exclusively found in formal compound words like 欣慰 or 欣賞. Using it alone in casual conversation will sound unnatural or overly poetic.
Examples
Seeing you so happy, I feel very gratified.
He accepted this invitation with pleasure.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 欣 as a direct substitute for 開心 or 高興 in daily speech. It lacks the colloquial weight required for everyday expressions of happiness.
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.
