jan1 sin6欣羨欣羡
Jyutpingjan1 sin6
Yaleyān sihn
Definition
To admire or look at with envy.
writtenemotiondescriptions
How it's used
Carries a formal or literary tone that is rarely used in casual, everyday spoken Cantonese. Most speakers prefer using 羨慕 when describing the feeling of wanting what someone else has. It is more common in written contexts or when someone wants to sound particularly sophisticated or poetic.
Examples
He really admires that others can go abroad to study.
Why do you need to envy his wealth? You can achieve it yourself through hard work.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a common spoken word, but using it in a casual conversation with friends will sound unnatural or overly dramatic. Stick to 羨慕 for daily interactions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
