jan4 zi1 soeng4 cing4人之常情
Jyutpingjan4 zi1 soeng4 cing4
Yaleyàhn jī sèuhng chìhng
Definition
Human nature; something that is natural, normal, and to be expected of people.
colloquialemotionpeople
How it's used
Used to validate someone's feelings or actions by framing them as a universal human experience. It often appears at the end of a sentence followed by the particle 啫 to downplay the significance of a situation or to offer comfort. It serves as a gentle way to say that an emotional reaction is expected rather than problematic.
Examples
It is only natural to want to buy something when you see it's nice.
Worrying about your family is natural, you don't need to blame yourself.
Related words
Common phrases
it is just human nature
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use this to describe physical phenomena or objective facts, but it is strictly reserved for human emotions, reactions, or social behaviors. It is not appropriate for describing natural laws or scientific occurrences.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
